Abstract
Purpose:Rugbyis a physical game causing injuries, the most catastrophic of which is the cervical spine injury (CSI), resulting in tetraplegia or even death. Currently the Rugby Football Union (RFU) differentiates players on age alone and not strength. The primary outcome goal is to investigate the cervical strength of adolescent rugby playing individuals versus age match controls. Methods: Forty four 14-18 year olds were evaluated for their cervical strength in flexion and extension using repetition maximum. Repetition maximum was established by measuring isometric contraction until the onset of eccentric failure with the use of a dynamometer. Neck girth was measured directly superior to the thyroid cartilage and cervical range of movement using a goniometer. These three parameters were compared against football playing controls. Results: Cervical circumference and strength is significantly stronger in rugby players versus age matched controls and also in 17-18 year old rugby players compared with their 14-16 year old counterparts P<0.05. The difference in strength is not just age related but also sport specific as cervical extension strength to body weight ratio is stronger in rugby players versus football players P<0.05. Conclusion: Urgent RFU regulations need to be addressed before the coming season to make sure U16 players are not playing for U18 teams unless having both sufficient strength and skill. Further still novice or beginners should not be introduced into the team without adequate conditioning and training.
Highlights
Rugby is a popular sport played at all levels from juniors through to club national and international level
The results indicate that rugby players go through cervical adaptation and are stronger than age matched controls and increase in age alone does not produce increase cervical strength
This observation is important as current guidelines from the Rugby Football union (RFU) for youth rugby players states that rugby players shall play in their own age grade unless they fall within one of the following exceptions; (a) Very talented or physically developed players in the U13; U14 and U15 age grades may play up one age grade with appropriate permission; (b) Those in the U16 and U17 age grades may play up two age grades
Summary
Rugby is a popular sport played at all levels from juniors through to club national and international level. Since the game turned professional after the second world cup in South Africa in 1995; there is ever more publicity and people taking part; with rugby being played in over 100 countries worldwide [1]. It is a physical game causing injuries; the most catastrophic of which is the cervical spine injury (CSI); resulting in tetraplegia or even death. In children older than 10 years of age the common causes of spinal injuries occurs more frequently from sports than from motor vehicle accidents; this is the reverse in children less than 10 years of age [2,3,4,5]. In the 1980s New Zealand and Australia noticed increase incidence of CSI within the adolescent rugby players; and in a 10 year review between 1986 and 1996 rate of occurrence was 2.4/100;000 players- year [6]
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