Abstract

OKUSANYA, D O  and  BASSON, W J. Symptom profile following cumulative mild traumatic brain injury in early adolescent rugby union players in South Africa. S. Afr. j. child health [online]. 2020, vol.14, n.3, pp.133-138. ISSN 1999-7671.  http://dx.doi.org/sajch.2020.v14i3.1699.

BACKGROUND. The symptom profiles of young adolescent rugby and non-contact sports were investigated over one sport season.OBJECTIVES. To compare the concussion symptom profiles of rugby players with those of non-contact sport players over a sport season.METHODS. In a non-equivalent quasi-experimental design, a group of rugby players («=99) were compared with a demographically equivalent group of non-contact sport participants («=74). The computerised Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (IMPACT) symptom scale was employed to evaluate and compare pre-season and post-season assessment of both groups.RESULTS. Independent comparative analyses revealed that the damaging effects owing to exposure to concussive and sub-concussive incidents appear to be more pronounced in the rugby group in terms of symptomatic presentation compared with the controls.CONCLUSION. The damaging effects are compounded during a rugby season as a result of sub-concussive and concussive events.

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