Bolger Craig, Mara Jocelyn, Pyne David B, McKune Andrew J
University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Kirinari Street, Bruce, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia.
ACT Brumbies Rugby, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Sports Med. 2025 Aug 17. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02296-1.
Contact events in rugby codes such as tackling, running into contact, scrums, rucks, and contact with the playing surface may expose athletes to muscle damage known as impact-induced muscle damage. These repetitive impacts to muscle tissue have the potential to diminish muscle force production and delay recovery following contact-focused training and match-play. Repetitive exposure to contacts may also affect the surrounding vascular and neuronal tissues, an area that has received little attention in the collision sports. Depending on the severity and duration of tissue damage, repetitive contact exposure without sufficient recovery or noticeable adaptation may predispose collision sport athletes to impaired performance and long-term health complications. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a conceptual framework for understanding the physiological implications of contact exposure in collision sports. We examine the current understanding of impact-induced muscle damage (IIMD), how it differs from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and its relationship with contact exposure in collision sports. Drawing on both experimental animal models of contusion injury and limited human observational research, we explore the effects of repeated contact exposure on the microvasculature and its implications for both athletic performance and player welfare. To account for all tissues that may be affected by impacts, including muscle, nerve, vascular, connective tissue, skin, other organs and bones, we recommend impact-induced tissue damage (IITD) as the preferred descriptor rather than IIMD. Finally, we discuss the concept of contact adaptation and provide recommendations for future research on IITD in collision sports.
橄榄球运动中的接触性动作，如擒抱、主动迎头接触、争球、ruck（英式橄榄球中的一种动作，可译为“ruck争球”）以及与比赛场地的接触，可能会使运动员遭受一种被称为冲击诱导性肌肉损伤的肌肉损伤。这些对肌肉组织的重复性冲击有可能降低肌肉力量的产生，并延缓以接触性训练和比赛为重点后的恢复。重复性地暴露于接触性动作之下，也可能会影响周围的血管和神经组织，而这一领域在碰撞类运动中几乎未受到关注。根据组织损伤的严重程度和持续时间，在没有足够恢复或明显适应的情况下反复接触，可能会使从事碰撞类运动的运动员更容易出现表现受损和长期健康问题。本叙述性综述的目的是提供一个概念框架，以理解碰撞类运动中接触性暴露的生理影响。我们审视了目前对冲击诱导性肌肉损伤（IIMD）的理解，它与运动诱导性肌肉损伤（EIMD）的区别，以及它在碰撞类运动中与接触性暴露的关系。借助于挫伤损伤的实验动物模型和有限的人体观察研究，我们探讨了反复接触性暴露对微血管系统的影响及其对运动表现和运动员健康的意义。为了涵盖所有可能受到冲击影响的组织，包括肌肉、神经、血管、结缔组织、皮肤、其他器官和骨骼，我们建议使用冲击诱导性组织损伤（IITD）作为更合适的描述词，而非IIMD。最后，我们讨论了接触适应的概念，并为未来关于碰撞类运动中IITD的研究提供建议。
