title: A preliminary video analysis of concussion in the National Rugby League.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct the first video analysis of concussion in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) and describe player and injury characteristics, situational factors and time to return to play.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Video analysis of 20 medically diagnosed concussions for three consenting clubs during the 2013 NRL season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most concussions (83%) occurred during a high tackle, and all injured ball carriers were hit high. Loss of consciousness was observed in 30% of cases. Common observable signs of injury included clutching of the head, balance problems or wobbly legs and a blank or vacant state. There were no post-concussive seizures. All players with loss of consciousness were removed from play. However, only half of the total sample was removed from play and one athlete who was removed returned to play in the same match. Of the players who were removed from play, the large majority returned the following week. Illegal play accounted for 25% of all concussions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Video analysis may be a useful method to study the incidence, mechanism and management of concussion in sports such as Rugby League. Future studies may include larger numbers to validate this preliminary data and may also investigate other levels of play and age ranges.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.|c Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.|d MGHfC Sports Concussion Program , Boston , MA , USA.|e Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Grant L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.affiliation: f Department of Psychology , University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Tanya N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: g Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Austin Campus, Melbourne Brain Centre , Heidelberg , Victoria , Australia.|h Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention, Federation University , Ballarat , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makdissi
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: i Department of Medicine , Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Sandy R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.affiliation: j Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia , and.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: k Centre for Translational Neuroscience & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanwell
keywords: Athletes; brain concussion; epidemiology; injury surveillance