title: Video analysis of concussion injury mechanism in under-18 rugby.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the mechanism of injury is necessary for the development of effective injury prevention strategies. Video analysis of injuries provides valuable information on the playing situation and athlete-movement patterns, which can be used to formulate these strategies. Therefore, we conducted a video analysis of the mechanism of concussion injury in junior-level rugby union and compared it with a representative and matched non-injury sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injury reports for 18 concussion events were collected from the 2011 to 2013 under-18 Craven Week tournaments. Also, video footage was recorded for all 3 years. On the basis of the injury events, a representative 'control' sample of matched non-injury events in the same players was identified. The video footage, which had been recorded at each tournament, was then retrospectively analysed and coded. 10 injury events (5 tackle, 4 ruck, 1 aerial collision) and 83 non-injury events were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All concussions were a result of contact with an opponent and 60% of players were unaware of the impending contact. For the measurement ofhead position on contact, 43% had a 'down' position, 29% the 'up and forward' and 29% the 'away' position (n=7). The speed of the injured tackler was observed as 'slow' in 60% of injurious tackles (n=5). In 3 of the 4 rucks in which injury occurred (75%), the concussed player was acting defensively either in the capacity of 'support' (n=2) or as the 'jackal' (n=1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training interventions aimed at improving peripheral vision, strengthening of the cervical muscles, targeted conditioning programmes to reduce the effects of fatigue, and emphasising safe and effective playing techniques have the potential to reduce the risk of sustaining a concussion injury.
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Sharief
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mc Fie
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Rugby Union (SARU), Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Clint
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Readhead
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Rugby Union (SARU), Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Viljoen
keywords: Concussion; Injury; Rugby