Griffith University researchers have found weaker neck strength is a risk factor for concussion and higher head impacts in rugby league, rugby union and soccer athletes.
Researchers published a series of papers on the topic of concussion and worked closely with adolescent athletes from St Laurence's College and elite athletes from Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club, finding neck strength was an important factor.
Clinical and research physiotherapist at Griffith's School of Health Sciences and Social Work Dr Felix Leung said players with weaker neck strength had an increased risk of sustaining a concussion during the season.
"Strength training of these muscles should be incorporated into athlete training schedules to contribute to concussion prevention," Dr Leung said.
"If players have stronger neck muscles, they are able to brace themselves to absorb and dissipate the impact of collision forces.
"The research findings provide clinical impact for coaches and healthcare practitioners who will be able to use the clinical strength cut-offs to identify the players at greater risk of sustaining a concussion.
"The equipment used to test neck strength is portable, easy-to-use and can be set up in any gym."
Players with weaker neck extension strength at preseason testing were more likely to sustain a concussion during the season.
One study followed 43 adolescent rugby league and rugby union athletes and found one in four players sustained a concussion during the season.
Researchers established an optimal point where adolescent players with less than 32kg or 37 newtons per kilogram (normalised to their body weight) of neck extension strength were more likely to sustain a concussion.
School of Health Sciences and Social Work Professor Julie Hides said high impact sports such as rugby league and rugby union have a high incidence of concussion and most of these injuries occurred while tackling or being tackled.
"Griffith's team of researchers advocate for young and old to stay active and involved in sports," Professor Hides said.
"We want players to continue to participate in sport, and we're constantly looking at ways to minimise the risks and improve the management of concussion in sports."
Results from a second study on skilled soccer players aged between 15 – 18 years showed neck strength training may be beneficial to decrease head impacts during soccer ball heading.
The research on adolescent soccer players suggested testing of isometric muscle strength of the cervical spine lateral flexors may be useful and may reflect the role of muscles that were important when heading the ball in soccer, especially for those with increased range of motion.
'Neck strength deficit is a risk factor for concussion in high school rugby union and rugby league players' was published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.
'Relationship between the cervical spine and impacts whilst heading the ball in adolescent male soccer players' and 'Decreased isometric neck strength is a risk factor for head, neck and face injuries in professional rugby league players' were published in the Routledge Journal of Sports Sciences.
