Comparative cervical profiles of adult and under-18 front-row rugby players: implications for playing policy

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the cervical isometric strength, fatigue endurance and range of motion of adult and under-18 age-grade front-row rugby players to inform the development of a safe age group policy with particular reference to scrummaging.DesignCross-sectional cohort study.Setting‘Field testing’ at Murrayfield stadium.Participants30 high-performance under-18 players and 22 adult front-row rugby players.Outcome measuresIsometric neck strength, height, weight and grip strength.ResultsYouth players demonstrated the same height and grip strength as the adult players; however, the adults were significantly heavier and demonstrated substantially greater isometric strength (p<0.001). Only two of the ‘elite’ younger players could match the adult mean cervical isometric strength value. In contrast to school age players in general, grip strength was poorly associated with neck strength (r=0.2) in front-row players; instead, player weight (r=0.4) and the number of years’ experience of playing in the front row (r=0.5) were the only relevant factors in multivariate modelling of cervical strength (R2=0.3).ConclusionsExtreme forces are generated between opposing front rows in the scrum and avoidance of mismatch is important if the risk of injury is to be minimised. Although elite youth front-row rugby players demonstrate the same peripheral strength as their adult counterparts on grip testing, the adults demonstrate significantly greater cervical strength. If older youths and adults are to play together, such findings have to be noted in the development of age group policies with particular reference to the scrum.

Cervical range of motion, cervical and shoulder strength in senior versus age-grade Rugby Union International front-row forwards

“…Age-grade players may thereby be at increased risk of injury when playing within their own age group where pack weights are still high but cervical strength has not fully developed. Furthermore, whilst the cervical strength for the Age-grade players was similar to those of amateur adult players (Hamilton et al, 2014), the Senior International players had much higher values. Greater senior player exposure to elite-level rugby matches, training and preparation methods is likely to account for this.…”

“…Cervical and shoulder strength was tested using the Gatherer System (Gatherer Systems Ltd, Aylesbury, UK), which has previously been used to test cervical and upper limb strength in Rugby Union players (Hamilton et al, 2014;Peek & Gatherer, 2005). This is an isometric dynamometer that uses a 300 kg load cell and bespoke software system to accurately measure the forces exerted during each maximal contraction.…”

“…Some normative cervical strength values have been reported for adult amateur and school-aged players (Hamilton et al, 2012;Hamilton et al, 2014) although not all cervical movements were assessed. Further, establishing normative upper limb strength values (as myotomal shoulder strength deficit is a common sequeale to cervical injury) for players at high-risk of cervical injury would be useful in informing injury prevention and return to play programmes.…”

Youth rugby injuries need to be prioritised by funding bodies

“…1 Research into this problem is ongoing across the UK and Ireland, and has been published in peer reviewed journals. [2][3][4][5][6] In Scotland, a collaboration of medical professionals and academics was formed four years ago to look into such injuries. This independent group has worked with rugby authorities, clubs, and schools to effect change.…”

“…5 As a direct result, the playing age for schoolboy competitions in Scotland has been changed and policy adopted to prevent "under aged and undersized" boys playing in a potentially dangerous environment with older boys. An evidence based system of maturity testing has been in place in Scotland for the past three years.…”