An exploratory study into the relationship between playing at home or away and concussion.

ABSTRACT

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of home and away game travel on risk of concussion across different levels of rugby union. RESEARCH DESIGN: Exploration study across school, university, and professional rugby teams. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Retrospective analysis of concussion incidence and symptomology of surveillance data and prospective data collection for potential concussions via surveys. Data was collected from school rugby teams (n = 344 matches, over 2 years), a university rugby (n = 6 matches), and a professional rugby team (n = 64 matches, over two seasons). MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: School level rugby had an increased prevalence of concussions in away matches (p = 0.02). Likewise, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in concussions at away matches in university rugby. In addition, the professional rug by team had significant differences in recovery times and symptoms with away fixtures, including longer recovery times (p < 0.01), more initial symptoms (p < 0.01), as well as greater and more severe symptoms at 48 hours (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This research highlights an increased prevalence of concussion in school and university-aged rugby players away from home, as well as increased symptoms, symptom severity, and recovery times in professional rugby players.