Health and Medicine, UK (Commonwealth Union) – A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head or body, resulting in a disturbance of brain function. It may occur in various sports, including football, soccer, hockey, rugby, and even non-contact sports like gymnastics and cycling. Athletes involved in contact sports are particularly susceptible due to the nature of their activities.
While concussions are often considered “mild,” their consequences cannot be underestimated. Symptoms can vary widely, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, nausea, and sensitivity to light and noise. In some cases, more severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness, seizures, and emotional disturbances may also occur. Repeated concussions can lead to long-term health issues, such as a degenerative brain disease associated with memory loss, depression, and cognitive decline.
A new study has found that team spirit may not be a positive aspect when it comes to notifying concussions in female rugby.
The new study had sports experts from Staffordshire University and Atlantic Technological University who had evaluated attitudes in elite women’s rugby union.
Dr Alex Blackett, who is Head of Sport & Exercise at Staffordshire University, indicated that female participation in rugby union has gone up significantly in the past few years. But sports science, has generally been male-focused and concussion in female rugby has not been sufficiently studied despite the issues that are known.
“We know that female athletes may be at greater risk of sustaining a concussion, may take longer to recover, and may have more severe symptoms than their male counterparts. So, it is important that we understand what might influence players’ attitudes about these types of injuries and how they are managed,” said Dr Blackett.
According to extensive interviews conducted with professional female rugby players, the study dives into the way the ‘social identity approach’ may encourage or stop players from divulging sport-related concussions.
Dr Lisa Ryan, who is Head of Sport Exercise and Nutrition at Atlantic Technological University, indicated that social identity is when a person ceases to think in terms of “I” and “me” and instead start thinking in terms of the group as “we” and “us.” As individuals start to think in terms of the group instead of themselves, it may influence many of different facets like their behaviors, beliefs, stress management, cognitions, along with wellbeing.
“While a considerable amount of research has focused on the potential beneficial effects of social identity on sporting performance and sports leadership, there is also evidence to suggest that there are instances where social identity can be harmful to health,” said Dr Ryan.
All those that took part in the study were playing international level rugby union that represented Ireland or UK when the data was collected. It was observed in the study that brain injury is regularly underreported or undisclosed. Unlike a fractured arm or a torn hamstring, there was a capability to coverup the physical impacts of concussion from medical as well as coaching staff and continue playing as the injury remains.
The players who participated had a strong common social identity as ‘women in rugby’ together in their struggle to improve support and recognition for the female game. This shared social identity had both good and bad consequences for concussion disclosure, according to researchers.
The research did, however, put a spotlight onto the very positive role that players had on each other and the way they want to look out for and stand up for each other. The study team hoped that these results can be utilized to draw attention to sport psychology interventions to improve the disclosure or sport-related concussion present in elite women’s rugby.
