Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Rugby union (RU) athletes are at risk of concussion due to the contact nature of the sport. There are biological differences between females and males, however there is a lack of evidence on female RU athletes . Female athletes are more susceptible to sport-related concussions (SRCs ) and experience worse outcomes than male athletes (McGroarty, et al.,2020). Neck training modalities can provide greater protection in men’s sport (Daly, et al., 2021), but there is a paucity of research exploring neck training in female rugby. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in neck strength between three different 8-week isometric neck strength protocols in female Rugby Union players.
METHODS:
Participants were matched random assigned based of the sum of the individuals total preintervention neck strength (flexion (F), extension (E), left-side flexion (LSF), and right-side flexion (RSF)) to either a Hypertrophy Training (HST) group, Maximal Strength Training (MST) group or World Rugby injury prevention (WRIP) group.
Thirty-nine participants with 10 Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) player and 29 UK collegiate rugby athletes undertook the interventions. Three sets per week were performed in addition to their usual strength and conditioning program. The WRIP (N=15) followed a self-directed manual contraction in F, E, LSF, RSF, left rotation, and right rotation, each direction for 15s at a perceived maximal intensity. The MST (N=12) and HST (N=12) intervention group attached a dynamometer to a head harness and perform isometric cervical contractions prescribed load intensities.
RESULTS:
Pre and post measures of neck strength for F, E, LSF and RSF was measured using a fixed-frame dynamometer (ForceFrame, VALD, Newstead, Australia).
HST had the greatest total increase of 99.6N (+13.18%), compared to 59.1N (+7.60%) in the MST and a -2.1N (-0.32%) decrease in the WRIP training group. HST had increased strength in all four directions. (F = 18.8N (+9.47%), E = 22.4N (+10.43%), LSF = 35.9N (+22.04%), RSF = 22.5 (+12.53%). Similarly, MST showed increase strength of 0.60% in F, 3.43% in E, 17.82% in LSF and 11.26% RSF. However, WRIP showed a 0.60% decrease in flexion and a 4.72% decrease in extension following the 8-week program. However, WRIP did increase in LSF and RSF of 1.26% and 4.44% respectively.
CONCLUSION:
HST and MST increased neck strength compared to a self-directed resource-efficient neck-strengthening program (WRIP). Subsequently, the HST and MST programmes may be appropriate across a range of trained female RU players to reduce neck injuries such as SRCs. Practitioners working with female RU players should therefore consider using dynamometers to train the neck musculature in individualised intensities.
*Please note, data collection was completed on the 10th February 2025. Therefore, full statistical analysis will be completed prior to July 2025.
Rugby union (RU) athletes are at risk of concussion due to the contact nature of the sport. There are biological differences between females and males, however there is a lack of evidence on female RU athletes . Female athletes are more susceptible to sport-related concussions (SRCs ) and experience worse outcomes than male athletes (McGroarty, et al.,2020). Neck training modalities can provide greater protection in men’s sport (Daly, et al., 2021), but there is a paucity of research exploring neck training in female rugby. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in neck strength between three different 8-week isometric neck strength protocols in female Rugby Union players.
METHODS:
Participants were matched random assigned based of the sum of the individuals total preintervention neck strength (flexion (F), extension (E), left-side flexion (LSF), and right-side flexion (RSF)) to either a Hypertrophy Training (HST) group, Maximal Strength Training (MST) group or World Rugby injury prevention (WRIP) group.
Thirty-nine participants with 10 Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) player and 29 UK collegiate rugby athletes undertook the interventions. Three sets per week were performed in addition to their usual strength and conditioning program. The WRIP (N=15) followed a self-directed manual contraction in F, E, LSF, RSF, left rotation, and right rotation, each direction for 15s at a perceived maximal intensity. The MST (N=12) and HST (N=12) intervention group attached a dynamometer to a head harness and perform isometric cervical contractions prescribed load intensities.
RESULTS:
Pre and post measures of neck strength for F, E, LSF and RSF was measured using a fixed-frame dynamometer (ForceFrame, VALD, Newstead, Australia).
HST had the greatest total increase of 99.6N (+13.18%), compared to 59.1N (+7.60%) in the MST and a -2.1N (-0.32%) decrease in the WRIP training group. HST had increased strength in all four directions. (F = 18.8N (+9.47%), E = 22.4N (+10.43%), LSF = 35.9N (+22.04%), RSF = 22.5 (+12.53%). Similarly, MST showed increase strength of 0.60% in F, 3.43% in E, 17.82% in LSF and 11.26% RSF. However, WRIP showed a 0.60% decrease in flexion and a 4.72% decrease in extension following the 8-week program. However, WRIP did increase in LSF and RSF of 1.26% and 4.44% respectively.
CONCLUSION:
HST and MST increased neck strength compared to a self-directed resource-efficient neck-strengthening program (WRIP). Subsequently, the HST and MST programmes may be appropriate across a range of trained female RU players to reduce neck injuries such as SRCs. Practitioners working with female RU players should therefore consider using dynamometers to train the neck musculature in individualised intensities.
*Please note, data collection was completed on the 10th February 2025. Therefore, full statistical analysis will be completed prior to July 2025.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jul 2025 |
| Event | European College of Sport Science Conference 2025 - Rimini, Italy Duration: 1 Jul 2025 → 4 Jul 2025 |
Conference
| Conference | European College of Sport Science Conference 2025 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ECSS 2025 |
| Country/Territory | Italy |
| Period | 1/7/25 → 4/7/25 |