Thomas Jessica, Tomlinson Owen, Williams Genevieve, Bond Bert
Exeter Head Impacts, Brain Injury and Trauma (ExHIBIT) Research Group, Public Health and Sport Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Medical School, The University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Phys Sportsmed. 2025 Apr;53(2):169-177. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2024.2439239. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
The aim of this study was to capture information regarding concussion prevalence, knowledge, and reporting behaviors in women rugby players across all competitive levels in the UK. We also investigated whether these outcomes were influenced by the prevailing concussion awareness programme (HEADCASE).
Two hundred and thirty players from elite (Premiership), Championship, British Universities, and College Sport and club level completed ( = 133) or partially completed ( = 97) a mixed-methods online questionnaire.
Over a mean period of 8 years, 159 players (74%) experienced at least one suspected or diagnosed rugby-related concussion. In total, 408 rugby-related concussions were reported in these players during this time. Prevalence of concussion did not differ across playing level or position. Being tackled was the most common cause of rugby-related concussions, and the act of tackling another player was second. Players across all levels demonstrated good knowledge of concussion symptoms, but only 12% identified that concussion can occur without direct impact to the head. One hundred and forty-six players completed the HEADCASE training (mandatory for Premiership players). Forty-one percent of players admitted to deliberately failing to report a suspected rugby concussion, and this behavior was not influenced by HEADCASE training. These individuals were more likely to avoid reporting a suspected concussion during an important (e.g. semifinal or final) than unimportant (e.g. training) scenario. Those who underwent the graduated return to play pathway ( = 41) were significantly more likely to have completed HEADCASE training.
The prevalence of concussion in women's rugby union is high but does not differ by playing level or position. All players had a good knowledge of concussion symptoms, but many were unaware that concussions may occur without direct impact to the head. Almost half of all players admitted to deliberately failing to report a suspected concussion, and this was not significantly influenced by the completion of HEADCASE training.
本研究旨在获取有关英国各级别女子橄榄球运动员脑震荡患病率、知识水平及报告行为的信息。我们还调查了这些结果是否受到现行脑震荡意识计划（HEADCASE）的影响。
来自精英组（英超联赛）、锦标赛组、英国大学组、学院体育组和俱乐部级别的230名运动员完成了（n = 133）或部分完成了（n = 97）一份混合方法的在线问卷。
在平均8年的时间里，159名运动员（74%）经历了至少一次疑似或确诊的与橄榄球相关的脑震荡。在此期间，这些运动员共报告了408次与橄榄球相关的脑震荡。脑震荡患病率在比赛级别或位置上没有差异。被擒抱是与橄榄球相关脑震荡的最常见原因，而擒抱其他球员的行为是第二常见原因。各级别的运动员对脑震荡症状都有较好的了解，但只有12%的人认识到脑震荡可能在没有头部直接撞击的情况下发生。146名运动员完成了HEADCASE培训（英超联赛球员为强制性）。41%的运动员承认故意不报告疑似橄榄球脑震荡，这种行为不受HEADCASE培训的影响。与不重要的场景（如训练）相比，这些人在重要场景（如半决赛或决赛）中更有可能避免报告疑似脑震荡。那些遵循逐步恢复比赛路径的人（n = 41）完成HEADCASE培训的可能性显著更高。
女子英式橄榄球中脑震荡的患病率很高，但在比赛级别或位置上没有差异。所有运动员对脑震荡症状都有很好的了解，但许多人不知道脑震荡可能在没有头部直接撞击的情况下发生。几乎一半的运动员承认故意不报告疑似脑震荡，并且这并没有受到完成HEADCASE培训的显著影响。
