Neurobehavioural profile following cumulative mild traumatic brain injury in adolescent rugby players in south africa

The study investigated the neurobehavioural components of executive dysfunction following sport-related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) in Grade 12 adolescent rugby players over a rugby season . In a non-equivalent quasi-experimental design, a rugby group (n = 90) were compared with demographically equivalent noncontact sport controls (n = 59) . The Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functions – Self Report (BRIEF-SR) was employed to assess the neurobehavioural component of executive functions . Independent and dependent t-test analyses were conducted to compare the groups at baseline and end-of-season intervals . The overall findings suggest more pronounced deleterious effects on executive functioning from exposure to the concussive and sub-concussive events among the rugby group . High school rugby players experience adverse neurobehavioural effects in executive dysfunction from contact rugby sport injuries .