An Integrated Experimental-modelling Approach Indicates Buckling is the Primary Mechanism of Cervical Spine Injury in Rugby Tackling

Description

This transcript features a presentation by Dario Cazzola discussing his collaborative research on minimizing injuries in rugby, specifically related to tackles. Funded by the RFU Injured Players Foundation and conducted alongside colleagues from the University of Bath, the study employs biomechanical methods to investigate injury mechanisms. Cazzola explains that approximately 40% of serious injuries in rugby arise from tackling, prompting the need for in-depth understanding.



The research combines experimental and computational techniques to analyze neck muscle activity and forces during tackling simulations. Through lab experiments involving rugby players tackling a punching bag and utilizing anthropometric testing devices, the team measured muscle activation and simulated potential injury scenarios through a detailed musculoskeletal model.



Key findings indicate that neck flexion increases compressive loads on the cervical spine during impacts, posing significant injury risks. The research distinguishes between buckling and hyperflexion as injury mechanisms, revealing that buckling tends to occur due to axial loading, with a noticeable difference in motion between the lower and upper parts of the cervical spine.



Cazzola concludes with implications for player safety, citing that reducing neck flexion during tackles could decrease injury incidents. The discussion also includes inquiries about future modeling to explore stresses within the spinal discs further, emphasizing the importance of validating findings through more advanced modeling techniques.

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