News / Health
Bristol Bears partner with Children of the 90s for unique rugby study
Bristol Bears have teamed up with the groundbreaking Children of the 90s study to learn more about how rugby impacts players’ bodies.
The European Challenge Cup winners hope to help researchers at the University of Bristol in looking at the association between body composition and injury in elite level male, female and academy rugby union players.
This multi-generational research extensively measures participants’ health, from bone density to liver function, routinely throughout their lives.
View this post on Instagram
The Bristol Bears will use the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanning equipment, located at the Children of the 90s clinic, to measure how body composition asymmetry affects the likelihood of injury for professional rugby union players.
Principle investigator, Dr James Morehen, said: “The incidence rate for match injuries in elite senior men’s Rugby Union is high in comparison to most team sports, with an average of 27 days missed following an injury”.
“Injuries can create a physical, financial, and psychological cost to athletes, coaches, and sporting organisations.”
“Therefore it is important to research potential modifiable risk factors in rugby players to reduce this risk of injury”.
Children of the 90s senior fieldworker Paul Isaacs sets up a Bristol Bears player for their scan. – photo: University of Bristol
Professor Nic Timpson said: “It is fantastic that we are able to open the clinic for a new area of sports science research – and we are delighted that the Bristol Bears approached us to assess these leading athletes.”
“It is not just great to open up our doors to exciting science, but this work marks part of our civic initiative in Bristol – really reaching out to our participants, the population of Bristol and, of course, new contacts in the Bears,” he added.
Thousands of participants have already taken part in the pioneering Children of the 90s study.
Main photo: University of Bristol
Read next:
- Children of the 90s founder interviewed on Desert Island Discs
- Bristol researchers collaborate on national study on long covid
- Barbarians beat Bears in entertaining encounter
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
