What NZ Rugby understands about concussion, and what it wants to find out

"The issue of concussion in contact sport has rightly received a great deal of focus over the past few years. When New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby approached AUT in 2012 to commission a study of retired rugby players, research examining health issues among former sportspeople was largely limited to American Football. We're now seeing a range of research being carried out across many sports.

At the time the project was intended to involve data from 600 former players using web-based data collection, and 75 former players using laboratory based data collection. Recruitment was difficult at the time. Given increased media, player and public awareness of concussion issues, recruitment would likely be much easier if the study was conducted now.

Players' health outcomes were compared for 100 professional rugby players, 195 community rugby players and 65 non-contact elite sports players, with the potential impact of head injuries and long-term health outcomes being one focus of the study."

"Keeping an open mind scientifically is a different thing from not accepting the potential implications of the study. Both World Rugby and NZ Rugby have recognised that there is a potential link between playing contact sport and some forms of dementia for a number of years, and are acting according to the 'precautionary principle'. In other words, even though we don't know for sure whether such a relationship exists based on the available scientific evidence, we are acting as though it does. We are trying to manage and minimise risks associated with concussions by raising public awareness of the injury, implementing injury management practices that reduce risk, and conducting further research into the issue. As evidence continues to emerge, we will continue to take all reasonable steps to protect the health and well-being of participants."

Read the full article @ Stuff.