After years of rugby authorities telling players that head gaurds had no impact on reducing the risk of concussion, research coming out of the Institute of Motion Analysis Research at Dundee University is now suggesting the opposite.
The researchers however admit that there are limitations to their study.
The study was built around head impact with the ground, whilst they recognise that recent research suggests that 53% of concussive incidence occur in a tackle situation.
Another limitations is that the study only looked at linear acceleration measurements, and they again recognised that in a game situation, angular acceleration plays an important role.
The study compares seven brands of rugby headguards available in the UK, and found that each headguard demonstrated a significant decrease in the linear acceleration forces during an impact.
The conclusions from the study include:
"the results indicate that it would be beneficial to wear a headguard during rugby in order to reduce the impact forces involved in head collisions".
When in comes to mouth guards, many Rugby Clubs insist on their use in mini and youth sessions, it will be interesting if they now also insist on the use of headguards.
The paper is available via BMJ.
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