One of the lead researchers into the concussion study on Otago Mitre 10 Cup players last year says there were fewer hits by players in the Mitre 10 Cup than those that took part in club play.
University of Otago school and physical education and exercise sciences research fellow Danielle Salmon, who led the research along with the university's Hamish Osborne, said she hoped to have the study concluded within a month or two.
Early conclusions from the study have that players who have large differences between the strength of left and right sides of the neck sustained more impacts and greater impacts of severity.
Club players on average had a reported 95 impacts per game while Otago players had 48 impacts per game.
Otago players wore a recording device of the size of a $2 coin behind their neck for all the home matches in the Mitre 10 Cup last year.
Salmon said though there was only speculation around why the club players picked up more impacts it may be because players at the representative level were fitter and better conditioned. They had carried out better trainings and were more balanced in going into contacts which lessened the impacts.
Research in football and the heading of the ball between professional and amateur players showed professionals did not suffer as much damage as they were stronger and more balanced.
Salmon said much of the strengthening of the neck involved just as much work with the back as other muscles.
Many players did not strengthen all of the muscles in the neck.
Being well balanced in the neck appeared to be just as important as having strength in the neck.
Other research had shown most players liked tackling with their right hand side of their body, which was natural but that was also weakening that side of the body with the endless hits.
It is hoped the final findings from the concussion study will be revealed in a month or two.
The study would now look at matching all the impacts with the video footage and to see what is happening in the collisions.
