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An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby / FREJA PETRIE

Swansea University Author: FREJA PETRIE

Abstract

Women are increasingly participating in rugby, a full-contact team sport. This contact acts as a source of exposure to repeated head-acceleration events and concussion, yet strategies to reduce this exposure, or improve concussion management are often developed from male/men’s data. This is despite...

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: McNarry, M., Macintosh, K., and Starbuck, C.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68317
first_indexed 2024-11-25T14:21:51Z
last_indexed 2024-11-25T14:21:51Z
id cronfa68317
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2024-11-21T14:32:13.2029208 v2 68317 2024-11-21 An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby 51b8facc1e2d23b49333f32701ff69f8 FREJA PETRIE FREJA PETRIE true false 2024-11-21 Women are increasingly participating in rugby, a full-contact team sport. This contact acts as a source of exposure to repeated head-acceleration events and concussion, yet strategies to reduce this exposure, or improve concussion management are often developed from male/men’s data. This is despite the numerous sex-and-gender differences that limit the generalisability of male/men’s data and resultantly, the efficacy of subsequently developed interventions. Therefore, this thesis explored the biomechanical, and sociological factors that may influence how women’s rugby players are exposed to head-acceleration events, and how concussions are managed.Study One analysed video footage of two playing levels of university women’s rugby to identify relationships between tackle technique and exposure to head-impact events (HIEs). Players who did not maintain neck positioning during landing, or landed supine were significantly more likely to experience a head-to-ground HIE, or HIE, respectively.Studies Two and Three contextualised the findings of Study One, through the qualitative investigation of player’s concussion history, resource access, and rugby-playing experience. Concussion misconceptions were identified and players expressed a desire for further information pertaining to concussion recovery. Women were less able to access resources than men and were negatively impacted by preconceptions of their playing ability and belonging in the sport.Study Four investigated the feasibility of introducing a neck-strengthening intervention to a university women’s rugby team. Neck-strength improvements were elicited, and stakeholder interviews provided feedback from which future interventions could be improved.This thesis has contributed novel findings to the literature, providing insights that can inform future strategies to minimise head-acceleration event exposure and improve concussion management. Strategies to reduce head-to-ground HIE and address the endemic sexism in rugby should be considered an area of research priority to protect player welfare. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Rugby, concussion, women 30 10 2024 2024-10-30 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University McNarry, M., Macintosh, K., and Starbuck, C. Doctoral Ph.D ESRC ESRC 2024-11-21T14:32:13.2029208 2024-11-21T14:04:20.8462207 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences FREJA PETRIE 1
title An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
spellingShingle An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
FREJA PETRIE
title_short An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
title_full An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
title_fullStr An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
title_full_unstemmed An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
title_sort An Investigation of the Biomechanical and Social Influences of Head-Acceleration Events, and Concussion Management in Women’s Rugby
author_id_str_mv 51b8facc1e2d23b49333f32701ff69f8
author_id_fullname_str_mv 51b8facc1e2d23b49333f32701ff69f8_***_FREJA PETRIE
author FREJA PETRIE
author2 FREJA PETRIE
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publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str 0
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description Women are increasingly participating in rugby, a full-contact team sport. This contact acts as a source of exposure to repeated head-acceleration events and concussion, yet strategies to reduce this exposure, or improve concussion management are often developed from male/men’s data. This is despite the numerous sex-and-gender differences that limit the generalisability of male/men’s data and resultantly, the efficacy of subsequently developed interventions. Therefore, this thesis explored the biomechanical, and sociological factors that may influence how women’s rugby players are exposed to head-acceleration events, and how concussions are managed.Study One analysed video footage of two playing levels of university women’s rugby to identify relationships between tackle technique and exposure to head-impact events (HIEs). Players who did not maintain neck positioning during landing, or landed supine were significantly more likely to experience a head-to-ground HIE, or HIE, respectively.Studies Two and Three contextualised the findings of Study One, through the qualitative investigation of player’s concussion history, resource access, and rugby-playing experience. Concussion misconceptions were identified and players expressed a desire for further information pertaining to concussion recovery. Women were less able to access resources than men and were negatively impacted by preconceptions of their playing ability and belonging in the sport.Study Four investigated the feasibility of introducing a neck-strengthening intervention to a university women’s rugby team. Neck-strength improvements were elicited, and stakeholder interviews provided feedback from which future interventions could be improved.This thesis has contributed novel findings to the literature, providing insights that can inform future strategies to minimise head-acceleration event exposure and improve concussion management. Strategies to reduce head-to-ground HIE and address the endemic sexism in rugby should be considered an area of research priority to protect player welfare.
published_date 2024-10-30T14:38:32Z
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score 11.048042