| Title |
A Comparison of Cognitive Function in Former Rugby Union Players Compared with Former Non-Contact-Sport Players and the Impact of Concussion History
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Sports Medicine, August 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s40279-016-0608-8 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Patria A. Hume, Alice Theadom, Gwyn N. Lewis, Kenneth L. Quarrie, Scott R. Brown, Rosamund Hill, Stephen W. Marshall |
| Abstract |
This study investigated differences in cognitive function between former rugby and non-contact-sport players, and assessed the association between concussion history and cognitive function. Overall, 366 former players (mean ± standard deviation [SD] age 43.3 ± 8.2 years) were recruited from October 2012 to April 2014. Engagement in sport, general health, sports injuries and concussion history, and demographic information were obtained from an online self-report questionnaire. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the online CNS Vital Signs neuropsychological test battery. Cohen's d effect size statistics were calculated for comparisons across player groups, concussion groups (one or more self-reported concussions versus no concussions) and between those groups with CNS Vital Signs age-matched norms (US norms). Individual differences within groups were represented as SDs. The elite-rugby group (n = 103) performed worse on tests of complex attention, processing speed, executive functioning, and cognitive flexibility than the non-contact-sport group (n = 65), and worse than the community-rugby group (n = 193) on complex attention. The community-rugby group performed worse than the non-contact group on executive functioning and cognitive flexibility. Compared with US norms, all three former player groups performed worse on verbal memory and reaction time; rugby groups performed worse on processing speed, cognitive flexibility and executive functioning; and the community-rugby group performed worse on composite memory. The community-rugby group and non-contact-sport group performed slightly better than US norms on complex attention, as did the elite-rugby group for motor speed. All three player groups had greater individual differences than US norms on composite memory, verbal memory and reaction time. The elite-rugby group had greater individual differences on processing speed and complex attention, and the community-rugby group had greater individual differences on psychomotor speed and motor speed. The average number of concussions recalled per player was greater for elite rugby and community rugby than non-contact sport. Former players who recalled one or more concussions (elite rugby, 85 %; community rugby, 77 %; non-contact sport, 23 %) had worse scores on cognitive flexibility, executive functioning, and complex attention than players who did not recall experiencing a concussion. Past participation in rugby or a history of concussion were associated with small to moderate neurocognitive deficits (as indicated by worse CNS Vital Signs scores) in athletes post retirement from competitive sport. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 48 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 21 | 44% |
| New Zealand | 4 | 8% |
| Australia | 4 | 8% |
| United States | 3 | 6% |
| Ireland | 2 | 4% |
| Canada | 1 | 2% |
| Monaco | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 12 | 25% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 23 | 48% |
| Scientists | 20 | 42% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 4 | 8% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 325 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
| United States | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 323 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 61 | 19% |
| Student > Master | 43 | 13% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 39 | 12% |
| Researcher | 21 | 6% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 17 | 5% |
| Other | 45 | 14% |
| Unknown | 99 | 30% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Sports and Recreations | 71 | 22% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 37 | 11% |
| Psychology | 31 | 10% |
| Neuroscience | 17 | 5% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 16 | 5% |
| Other | 45 | 14% |
| Unknown | 108 | 33% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 85. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 22 July 2021.
All research outputs
#512,799
of 25,789,020 outputs
Outputs from Sports Medicine
#489
of 2,899 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#9,851
of 354,051 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Sports Medicine
#14
of 49 outputs
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