Eliason et al. (2023). Prevention strategies and modifiable risk factors for sport-related concussions and head impacts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57, 749-761. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106656

  • Conclusion: Policy and rule modifications, personal protective equipment, and neuromuscular training strategies may help to prevent SRC.

Symons et al. (2020). The neurological consequences of engaging in Australian collision sports. Journal of Neurotrauma, 37(5), 792–809. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2019.6884

  • Conclusion: We conclude that although Australia has had an active history of investigating the neurological impact of collision sports participation, further research is clearly needed to better understand these consequences in Australian athletes and how they can be mitigated.

Reyes et al. (2020). An investigation of factors associated with head impact exposure in professional male and female Australian football players. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(6), 1485–1495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546520912416

  • Conclusion: Playing situations in which players have limited control of the football are a common cause of impacts. Male players sustained a greater exposure to HAEs compared with female players. Female players, however, sustained higher exposure to HAEs than male players during certain skill executions, possibly reflecting differences in skill development. These findings can therefore inform match and skill development in the emerging professional women’s competition of Australian football.

Brennan et al. (2017). Accelerometers for the assessment of concussion in male athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 47(3), 469–478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0582-1

  • Conclusion: Head impact monitoring through accelerometery has been shown to be useful with regard to characterising the kinematic load to the head associated with concussion. Future research with improved clinical outcome measures and head kinematic data may improve accuracy when evaluating concussion, and may assist with both interpretation of biomechanical data and the development and utilisation of implementation strategies for the technology.

Iverson et al. (2023). Examining later-in-life health risks associated with sport-related concussion and repetitive head impacts: A systematic review of case-control and cohort studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57, 810-824. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-106890

  • Conclusion: Evidence does not support an increased risk of mental health or neurological diseases in former amateur athletes with exposure to repetitive head impacts. Some studies in former professional athletes suggest an increased risk of neurological disorders such as ALS and dementia; these findings need to be confirmed in higher quality studies with better control of confounding factors.

Makovec-Knight et al. (2023). Padded headgear in junior and youth Australian football: Player insights from a national survey. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 33(3), 252–257. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000001075

  • Conclusion: Club headgear (HG) culture, older age and being female were prominent variables associated with voluntary HG use. Players reported believing that HG offers protection. The rate of voluntary and mandated HG use identified is at odds with current scientific evidence that does not support HG as effective concussion prevention.

Makovec-Knight et al. (2021). Soft-shell headgear, concussion and injury prevention in youth team collision sports: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 11(6), e044320. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e044320    

  • Conclusion: HG use was not associated with reduced rates of SRC or superficial head injury in youth soccer and rugby. The possibility of increased injury risk to all body regions for rugby HG users was raised. The need for research specific to youth and female athletes was highlighted.

Makovec-Knight et al. (2022). The association of padded headgear with concussion and injury risk in junior Australian football: A prospective cohort study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 25(4), 312–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.11.043

  • Conclusion: Headgear use was not associated with reduced risk of suspected sports-related concussion, non-sports-related concussion head injury or injuries to other body regions. There was no difference in the rate of suspected sports-related concussion in female compared to male players, however, rates of non-sports-related concussion head injury and injuries to other body regions were higher in male players.

Willmott et al. (2022). A pilot case crossover study of the use of padded headgear in junior Australian football. Concussion, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.2217/cnc-2022-0005

  • Conclusion: Use of HG in junior football was not associated with injury or head contact rate. Associations between HG use and body contact may differ across sexes.