The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health’s Dr Theo Farley, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, and a multidisciplinary team of researchers (including together with Professor Mike Loosemore MBE) conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of two practical neck strengthening programmes for male and female amateur rugby players.
The study found that both the band-resisted and partner-resisted interventions significantly improved isometric neck strength, with the band resisted programme producing the greatest overall improvements. The exercises proved to be simple, time-efficient, and low cost, making them practical for implementation in team training environments with minimal equipment.
Importantly, the research is believed to be the first to demonstrate a successful neck strengthening intervention in female athletes. In addition to evaluating the effectiveness of the training programmes, the study also explored the relationship between neck strength, anthropometric characteristics, training age, and concussion history, providing valuable insights to support injury prevention strategies in rugby.
