KR at heart of concussion research in RL
BRIANNA Mulhern is hoping to help improve the safety of players as she undertakes groundbreaking concussion research at Hull KR.
Mulhern, a PHD researcher in concussion biomechanics, linked up with the club at the start of pre-season from Ulster University’s School of Sport.
The research will see Mulhern monitor GPS data and state-ofthe-art mouthguards in partnership with Leeds Beckett University’s RFL Tackle project.
The project has been launched in a bid to better protect athletes by gaining a better understanding of brain injuries.
“I want to be able to get to the point where I can see in real time when a concussion has occurred and the magnitude of that concussion,” said Mulhern.
“We want to be able to improve the intervention and further prevention of concussions in rugby league.
“While concussions are a hot topic in rugby league, player welfare and their safety are at the core of this research.
“On the back of Stevie Ward’s documentary on how concussions have impacted his life, this research has the ability to improve the safety of players in the future and also give players the ability to see exactly what they’re putting their bodies through.”
The Rugby Football League recently approved the introduction of mouthguards capable of detecting whether a player is at risk of a concussion.
“These mouthguards can monitor what’s happening to players during impact in games and training through quantifying head acceleration exposure,” Mulhern added.
“Hopefully from seeing the magnitude of those impacts, we’re able to take that data and use it to better protect our players.
“It’s exciting to be a part of this. There’s a lot of room for research to come through because it’s very new.”
Mulhern will travel with the Robins on game day as part of her research.
She said: “There’s a lot of groundwork to do but in the future I’d like to be standing next to the pitch during a game and if there is an impact I’m able to in real time see how has this impact occurred, where it has occurred and its magnitude.
“We’d have the data coming in live and know when a player needs to come off. Being able to have that opportunity to take care of the player when they don’t know the magnitude of what their injury might be, that’s the point I want us to get to.”