| Summary: | Concussion is known to detrimentally affect brain health. Rugby tackles commonly
occur with high collision force between tackler and ball carrier, and low impact head contact is not
uncommon. Cognitive deficits following a bout of soccer ball heading has been attributed to the
impact and termed sub-concussion. Although soccer ball heading studies provide evidence for
acute effects of sub-concussion, it is unknown whether this phenomenon occurs following rugby
tackles. This study investigates the acute effects of rugby tackles on brain function and balance
in rugby players. Twenty-six volunteers were assigned to either the ball carrier (9), tackler (9) or
control (8) group. Controls performed running without the tackle. Outcome measures included
corticomotor function using transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) and balance was assessed
by a series of tasks performed on a NeuroCom Balance Master before and immediately after a tackle
training drill. Following the tackling bout, the cortical silent period (cSP) increased for the tacklers
with no change for ball carrier and control groups, and no differences between groups for balance
measures were observed. Lengthening of cSP observed in the tacklers following the bout has been
reported in studies of concussion and may indicate long term detrimental effects.
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