Do schoolboy rugby players who sustain a sports-related concussion have weak preseason neck strength?

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there are differences in neck strength in schoolboy rugby players diagnosed with a sports-related concussion (SRC) compared to those who did not.

DESIGN

Observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

134 schoolboy rugby players.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximal isometric neck strength testing, including peak forces for neck flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion. A composite force value of all four directions and a flexion:extension ratio were calculated.

RESULTS

Sixteen participants reported 18 concussions. There were no significant differences between the players who sustained a concussion (n = 16) and those who did not (n = 118) in the flexion (P = 0.349), extension (P = 0.124), left (P = 0.300) or right (P = 0.122) lateral flexion, or composite (P = 0.234) forces at preseason. The players who sustained an SRC had a higher preseason neck flexion:extension strength ratio (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

As neck strength was similar between schoolboy rugby players who did and did not sustain an SRC, risk factors of SRC are likely to be multifactorial. Evidence is growing that suggests that the relationship between neck flexor and extensor strength could be an influencing factor on SRC risk in schoolboy rugby players, but this relationship requires further investigation.