Assessing the feasibility of a neck‐strength training intervention in university women's rugby

• Published in: European journal of sport science Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 466 - 473
• Main Authors: Petrie, Freja J., Williams, Elisabeth M. P., Mackintosh, Kelly A., Starbuck, Chelsea, McNarry, Melitta A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2024
• Subjects: Brain research; cervical strength; Concussion; female athlete; Females; Intervention; Interviews; Neck; Perceptions; Physiology; qualitative; Rugby; Sports training; sports‐related brain injury; Strength training; Warm up (exercise); Women
• ISSN: 1746-1391; 1536-7290
• DOI: 10.1002/ejsc.12028

Cervical muscle strength has been demonstrated to reduce concussion risk in high school athletes, and interventions to improve this in male rugby players have elicited strength improvements. However, the feasibility of introducing neck‐strengthening interventions into women's rugby has not been investigated. This study sought to pilot a neck‐strength intervention in university‐level women's rugby players. A fixed‐frame dynamometer was used to assess the multi‐directional isometric neck‐strength of 14 university women's rugby players (20.3 ± 1.0 years). Between baseline and end‐of‐season testing, a neck‐strengthening program was completed. Interviews were conducted with six players and two coaches to understand program engagement. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and processed via inductive content analysis. Increases in absolute neck‐strength post‐intervention in left and right lateral flexion (left 85.4 ± 29.7 N to 108.2 ± 41.6 N, p = 0.02, right 87.4 ± 33.3 N to 110.5 ± 40.3 N, p = 0.01) and flexion (128.4 ± 28.8 N to 147.9 ± 30.5 N, p = 0.01) were perceived positively by the players although there were suggestions that greater adaptability according to training age and more variety was required. Participants initially demonstrated limited awareness of neck‐strength training but engaged well with the exercises once the potential benefits were understood. This intervention shows promise as an effective, palatable strategy to improve neck‐strength in university women's rugby players. Further research is needed to establish whether such improvements in neck‐strength are associated with meaningful reductions in head impact occurrence.
Highlights
Neck‐strength training has proved an effective strategy for reducing concussion incidence in high‐school and elite male populations but is yet to be investigated in females.
A neck‐strengthening intervention was introduced in a team of university women's rugby players, who were later interviewed to understand their experiences of the intervention.
Multi‐directional neck‐strength was tested via an Isometric Neck‐Strength Testing Apparatus, purpose‐built to mimic the scrum position associated with rugby.
Improvements to neck‐strength reached significance in flexion and lateral flexion strength, and the intervention was received positively by players and coaches.