ArticleSports medicine - open2026
Biomechanical Profiles of Diagnosed Concussions in Rugby Union: A Case Study Using Instrumented Mouthguards.
Article in Sports medicine - open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis case study presents biomechanical profiles of three confirmed concussions in professional Under 21 (U21) academy rugby union players, recorded using instrumented mouthguards (iMGs).
methodsAcross 34 matches (254 player matches) and 241 playing hours, 4414 head acceleration events (HAEs) were captured, with three concussions clinically diagnosed. Metrics analysed included Peak linear acceleration (PLA), Peak angular acceleration (PAA), Peak angular velocity (PAV), and angular measures: change in Peak angular velocity (ΔPAV) and Rotational Velocity Change Index (RVCI).
resultsPeak linear acceleration ranged from 27.6 to 48.4 g, PAA from 3234 to 4089 rad/s
conclusionThese findings demonstrate that concussions can result from both single high magnitude impacts and cumulative impacts. The variability in biomechanical signatures reinforces the need for multi-metric monitoring approaches rather than reliance on isolated thresholds. This study is the first in rugby to report confirmed concussions using iMGs with both peak and cumulative kinematic data. The results support the integration of angular metrics and cumulative load monitoring to understand concussion risk and management in collision sports.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.