Clinical study characteristics pertaining to concussion and protective equipment use (1998–September 2012)
| Study | Study design | Duration (seasons) | Sport | Study population | Exposure measures | Outcome measures | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singh et al11 | XS | 3 | American football | 28 Males (mean age: 17.3±1.9 years at study onset) | Customised mandibular orthotic (CMO) (preuse- and postuse) | Concussion | Mean self-reported incidence prior to CMO use: 2.1±1.4 Mean self-reported incidence after CMO use: 0.11±0.3 OR 38.33 (95% CI 8.2 to 178.6) |
| Hollis et al12 | XS | 1 or more | Australian non-professional rugby | 3207 males | Headgear use | Concussion | Players reporting always wearing headgear during games were at a reduced risk of sustaining a concussion (IRR, 0.57; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.82) |
| McIntosh et al13 | CRCT | 2 | Rugby Union Football | Males from U13, U15, U18 and U20 (ages 12-21 years) (n=3686) | No Headgear use, Standard Headgear use, Modified Headgear use | Concussion: Game Injury or Time-Loss (n=199) | No significant difference in concussion rates between the three arms of the study (p>0.05) |
CRCT, cluster-randomised controlled trial; IRR, incidence rate ratio; XS, cross-sectional.