The Effect of Tackler Technique on Head Injury Assessment Risk in Elite Rugby Union

Tierney, Gregory; Denvir, Karl; Farrell, Garreth; Simms, Ciaran

doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000001461

Cited by 41 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Conversely, in a front-on tackle, the side head position reduces the probability of a concussion ( Figure 2A). 20 Therefore, our results suggest that it is necessary to determine that the combination of the tackler's head position with the direction of the tackle is associated with an increased likelihood of tackler-related concussion.…”

Section: Factors Increasing the Likelihood Of The Tackler-related Cmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…At a professional level, the characteristics "head up and forward/face up" and "identify/track ball-carrier onto shoulder" had a lower propensity to result in an HIA for tacklers. 20 A situation wherein the tackler's head was down (face towards the ground) resulted in the tackler being unable to track the ball-carrier's motion, such as that in an evasive maneuver or fend. Moreover, when tacklers could not follow the ball-carrier's motion prior to contact, it was difficult for the tacklers to exhibit the appropriate skills, such as where to place their own head in relation to the movement of the ball-carrier, which in turn, led to an increased risk of concussion among the tacklers.…”

Section: Factors Increasing the Likelihood Of The Tackler-related Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characteristics and factors of concussion events for tacklers in collegiate rugby union

Suzuki

Nagai

Iwai

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related to the occurrence of concussion in rugby tacklers. Match video records showing tackles leading to concussion were used to identify injury-inciting events. Additionally, noninjury tackles by concussed tacklers (prior to concussion) and position-matched tacklers from the same matches were used as a control cohort. All tackles were coded according to the tackling characteristics. The odds ratio (OR) was reported by logistic regression. The results demonstrated that a side step of the ball-carrier reduced the risk of concussion for tacklers (OR = 0.13 [95% CI, 0.03-0.58]; P = .008). Conversely, the tackler's head/neck contacting the ball-carrier (OR = 18.62 [95% CI, 4.59-75.49]; P < .001) and not remaining bound to the ball-carrier since making initial contact (OR = 4.38 [95% CI, 1.69-11.34]; P = .002) were identified as risk factors for the concussion of tacklers. These results suggest that avoidance movements of the ball-carrier prior to tackling reduced the risk of concussion and that incorrect tackling techniques contributed to an increased occurrence of concussion. Furthermore, the probability of concussion for tacklers increased when their head was in front or to one side of the ball-carrier, and the direction of the tackle also affected the risk of concussion, especially from the side. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the tackler's head position in conjunction with the direction of tackle. K E Y W O R D Scommunity rugby, concussion, etiology, inciting event, tackle 186 | SUZUKI et al.

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Section: Factors Increasing the Likelihood Of The Tackler-related Cmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Factors Increasing the Likelihood Of The Tackler-related Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics and factors of concussion events for tacklers in collegiate rugby union

Suzuki

Nagai

Iwai

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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“…It appears that the tackler is at most risk of a direct head impact, and hence concussion, in the tackle. As a result, Tierney et al (Tierney, Denvir, Farrell, & Simms, 2018b) performed a video analysis study of elite level match play to identify tackler proficiency characteristics that had a lower propensity to result in a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) for the tackler. The HIA was first introduced in 2012 by World Rugby as the pitch side assessment process for concussion injuries (Fuller, Kemp, & Decq, 2015) and has previously been described in detail .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does ball carrier technique influence tackler head injury assessment risk in elite rugby union?

Tierney

Denvir

Farrell

et al. 2018

Journal of Sports Sciences

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The aim of this study was to use video evidence of tackles in elite level rugby union to identify ball carrier proficiency characteristics, for both lower and upper body tackles, that have a higher propensity to result in Head Injury Assessments(HIA) for the tackler. HIA (n = 74) and non-HIA tackles (n = 233) were categorised as either front-on or side-on upper or lower body tackles and scored for ball carrying proficiency characteristics. Side-on tackles included tackles from behind. A Chi-Square test (p < 0.05) and Cramer's V were calculated to compare proficiency characteristics in HIA and non-HIA cases. For front-on upper body tackles, the ball carrier "fending into contact" (p < 0.01;ES = Moderate) and "explosiveness on contact" (p = 0.04;ES = Moderate) had a higher propensity to result in a HIA for the tackler. Fending into contact was exhibited in 47% of all upper body Tackle front-on HIA cases. The fending arm contacted the tackler's head in 67% of these cases. Fending into contact can potentially be dangerous and therefore emphasis should be placed on safe fending during tackle-based training drills. Referees should also be alert to arm-to-head contact during the fend. Given the low number of ball carrier characteristics identified, focus should be placed on tackler characteristics for HIA prevention strategies.

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“…Tackle situations have the greatest propensity to cause all types of injuries for both tacklers and the ball-carriers across all levels of play (Viviers et al, 2018). Recent video findings have shown an increased incidence of tackle-related injuries in rugby union (Burger et al, 2017;Cross et al, 2019;Fuller et al, 2010;Quarrie and Hopkins, 2008;Suzuki et al, 2019;Tierney et al, 2018;Tucker et al, 2017). However, tackling characteristics associated with mild cervical injuries based on video analysis have not been studied in detail.…”

Section: Incidence Rate and Game Situationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Tackling Events Leading to Mild Cervical Injuries in Collegiate Rugby Union

Suzuki

Nagai

Iwai

et al. 2020

Int. J. Sport Health Sci.

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The present study aimed to determine the mechanisms of mild cervical injuries caused by tackling in a rugby union. This study enrolled 137 male players from a Japanese collegiate rugby union club during the 2009-2013 seasons. Twenty-nine (53.7%) of 54 incidents leading to mild cervical injury were identified from match video records and injury data that were reported under the definition of medical attention. In addition, all tackles by players in the same match in which they sustained cervical injury were extracted as a control cohort. All tackles were coded according to eleven characteristics of three tackle phases. Twenty-one tackles were the main events leading to mild cervical injury. The likelihood of tackler-associated mild cervical injuries was significantly higher when tacklers had no time to face forward at the offside line before tackle situations, tackles with incorrect tackler head positions, and not using arms after initial contact. These results suggest that further investigation is needed to determine specific tackling characteristics considering the three tackle phases and their combined effects.

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The Effect of Tackler Technique on Head Injury Assessment Risk in Elite Rugby Union

Abstract: This study identified tackle characteristics that had a lower propensity to result in an HIA for the tackler in both front-on and side-on upper body and lower body tackles.

Cited by 41 publications

References 36 publications

Characteristics and factors of concussion events for tacklers in collegiate rugby union

Characteristics and factors of concussion events for tacklers in collegiate rugby union

Does ball carrier technique influence tackler head injury assessment risk in elite rugby union?

Analysis of Tackling Events Leading to Mild Cervical Injuries in Collegiate Rugby Union

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