Diagnosed concussion is associated with increased risk for lower extremity injury in community rugby players

To determine (1) the association between lifetime diagnosed concussion and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury (LE-MSI) among community rugby union players and (2) the sex specific risk of LE-MSI given concussion history among males and females. Retrospective survey. 1037 (59.0% male, (612/1037), age: 31.6 ± 11.3 years) rugby players (10.1 ± 8.1 years played) completed an online survey to ascertain injury history. A chi-squared test of association was performed between concussion and LE-MSI; significant outcomes were followed-up with an odds ratio. A binary logistic regression with any LE-MSI (yes/no) as the outcome and concussion (yes/no) and sex (male/female) as predictors was performed to determine if there was a sex by concussion interaction. There was an overall significant association between concussion and any LE-MSI(χ(1) = 13.055, p 2× more likely to also experience an LE-MSI than those without a history of concussion. There were no differences in the odds of LE-MSI between males and females with a history of diagnosed concussion. In line with current World Rugby injury prevention programs, future research should aim to reduce LE-MSI incidence to maximize player safety and wellness through targeted injury prevention and teams should utilize a conservative return to play protocols following concussion.