{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T01:35:37Z","timestamp":1787016937473,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,2]],"date-time":"2023-08-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1690934400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":1,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,24]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this scoping review was to present an overview of the existing epidemiological evidence in retired male and female elite rugby players regarding the prevalence rates of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, psychological and gynaecological health conditions. A systematic search was carried out across MEDLINE (via PubMed), SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost) and EMBASE for musculoskeletal (eg, osteoarthritis), cardiovascular (eg, hypertension), neurocognitive (eg, dementia) and psychological health (eg, disordered eating, alcohol misuse) conditions in retired elite male and female rugby players and gynaecological health conditions (menorrhagia) in retired female rugby players. Primary research studies describing the prevalence rates of health conditions in retired elite male and female rugby players written in English, Dutch or French and with full text available online were included. Five hundred and seventy-three citations were originally identified and 16 studies were ultimately included in our review. No studies on health conditions in retired elite female rugby players were found. Four individual studies showed there was a significant higher prevalence rate of osteoarthritis in retired elite male rugby players compared with control groups. Various neurocognitive health conditions were investigated and showed, among others, a prevalence rate of 57% for mild cognitive disorder. The prevalence of self-reported depression and hazardous alcohol use in retired elite male rugby players was significantly higher than in control groups matched for age and education. Our review found relatively high prevalence rates of musculoskeletal health conditions such as osteoarthritis and psychological health conditions such as depression and hazardous alcohol use in retired elite male rugby players. More research needs to be conducted to understand better the health conditions of retired elite rugby players, especially among retired elite female players.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2023-001573","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,2]],"date-time":"2023-08-02T13:56:23Z","timestamp":1690984583000},"page":"e001573","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Health conditions among retired elite rugby players: a scoping review"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7229-0110","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johan","family":"Le Roux","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Flo","family":"Anema","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1058-6992","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dina Christa","family":"Janse van Rensburg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gino","family":"Kerkhoffs","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Sports, Musculoskeletal Health, Ageing & Vitality, Amsterdam, Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0126-4177","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vincent","family":"Gouttebarge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Section Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa"},{"name":"Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, Netherlands"},{"name":"Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Sports, Musculoskeletal Health, Ageing & Vitality, Amsterdam, Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-013-0078-1"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1701","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-021-01630-7","article-title":"NZ-RugbyHealth study: self-reported injury experience and current health of former rugby Union and non-contact sport players","volume":"52","author":"Hume","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Medicine"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2051","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-020-01310-y","article-title":"Cumulative sport-related injuries and longer term impact in retired male Elite- and Amateur-Level rugby code athletes and non-contact athletes: a retrospective study","volume":"50","author":"Hind","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sports Medicine"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.4","unstructured":"Fisher S . WP Rugby Player recovers after heart attack. 2015. Available: https:\/\/ewn.co.za\/2015\/09\/08\/20-year-old-rugby-play-recovering-after-heart-attack"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.5","unstructured":"News24 . Heart attack \u2018shows need for medics. 2012. Available: https:\/\/www.news24.com\/witness\/Archive\/Heart-attack-shows-need-for-medics-20150430"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.6","unstructured":"Weekes J . Rugby Player fights back after heart attack during game. 2016. Available: https:\/\/www.stuff.co.nz\/sport\/rugby\/82233180\/rugby-player-fights-back-after-heart-attack-during-game"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2018-000466","article-title":"Empowering the health of retired professional Footballers: the systematic development of an after career consultation and its feasibility","volume":"4","author":"Gouttebarge","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-102085"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-12130-y","article-title":"Health amongst former Rugby Union players: A cross-sectional study of morbidity and health-related quality of life","volume":"7","author":"Davies","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.14740\/jocmr3001w","article-title":"Impact of physical activity in cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health: can motion be medicine","volume":"9","author":"Curtis","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Clin Med Res"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/fmch-2020-000390","article-title":"Associations between concussion and risk of diagnosis of psychological and neurological disorders: a retrospective population-based cohort study","volume":"8","author":"Morissette","year":"2020","journal-title":"Fam Med Community Health"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1209","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-016-0608-8","article-title":"A comparison of cognitive function in former Rugby Union players compared with former non-contact-sport players and the impact of concussion history","volume":"47","author":"Hume","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1419","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-021-01594-8","article-title":"Mental health and wellbeing of retired elite and amateur Rugby players and non-contact athletes and associations with sports-related concussion: the UK Rugby health project","volume":"52","author":"Hind","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2018-000356","article-title":"Influence of playing rugby on long-term brain health following retirement: a systematic review and narrative synthesis","volume":"4","author":"Cunningham","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2017-097791"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.16","unstructured":"Aromataris A , Munn Z . JBI manual for evidence synthesis. Adelaide: Joanna Briggs Institute, 2020."},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616","article-title":"Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework","volume":"8","author":"Arksey","year":"2005","journal-title":"International Journal of Social Research Methodology"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M18-0850"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/XEB.0000000000000054"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2021-001196","article-title":"Health conditions among retired professional Footballers: a Scoping review","volume":"8","author":"Carmody","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.3171\/2015.1.SPINE14594","article-title":"Clinical and radiological Cervical spine evaluation in retired professional Rugby players","volume":"23","author":"Brauge","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Neurosurg Spine"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00701-015-2681-4"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1164","DOI":"10.1002\/alz.12455","article-title":"Concussion and long-term cognitive function among Rugby players-the BRAIN study","volume":"18","author":"Gallo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0042-120843","article-title":"Mr spectroscopy findings in retired professional rugby League players","volume":"38","author":"Gardner","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"595","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2015.1086819","article-title":"Prevalence and determinants of symptoms of common mental disorders in retired professional rugby union players","volume":"16","author":"Gouttebarge","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur J Sport Sci"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2021.655746","article-title":"Predictors and correlates of depression in retired elite level Rugby League players","volume":"12","author":"Iverson","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2019.03.004","article-title":"The prevalence of hand and wrist osteoarthritis in elite former cricket and Rugby Union players","volume":"22","author":"Jones","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sci Med Sport"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/jnnp-2016-314279"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-036775","article-title":"Ankle osteoarthritis and its association with severe ankle injuries, ankle surgeries and health-related quality of life in recently retired professional male football and Rugby players: a cross-sectional observational study","volume":"10","author":"Paget","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2022.817709","article-title":"Examining for cavum septum pellucidum and ventricular enlargement in retired elite-level rugby League players","volume":"13","author":"Stanwell","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2021.676762","article-title":"Predictors and correlates of perceived cognitive decline in retired professional Rugby League players","volume":"12","author":"Van Patten","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.1089\/neu.2019.6886","article-title":"White matter abnormalities in retired professional Rugby League players with a history of concussion","volume":"38","author":"Wright","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Neurotrauma"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0043-103959","article-title":"Forced retirement from professional Rugby Union is associated with symptoms of distress","volume":"38","author":"Brown","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-018-0837-9","article-title":"Informant questionnaire on cognitive decline in the elderly (IQCODE) for assessing the severity of dementia in patients with Alzheimer\u2019s disease","volume":"18","author":"Ding","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/bmb\/lds038"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rehab.2016.01.006"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cger.2010.03.001"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/annrheumdis-2019-216515"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.39","unstructured":"World Health organization . Depression. 2021. Available: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/depression"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2019-100671"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1080\/1750984X.2018.1469162","article-title":"Prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among retired elite athletes: a systematic review","volume":"12","author":"Mannes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1004","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2018.1466914","article-title":"A 12-month prospective cohort study of symptoms of common mental disorders among professional rugby players","volume":"18","author":"Gouttebarge","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Sport Sci"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1941738113487165"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1302","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546518825380","article-title":"A 2-year prospective study of injury epidemiology in elite Australian rugby Sevens: exploration of incidence rates, severity, injury type, and subsequent injury in men and women","volume":"47","author":"Toohey","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.45","unstructured":"World Rugby . World Rugby launches global campaign to revolutionise women\u2019s Rugby. 2019. Available: https:\/\/www.world.rugby\/news\/422288"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5812\/asjsm.28447","article-title":"Are level of education and employment related to symptoms of common mental disorders in current and retired professional Footballers","volume":"7","author":"Gouttebarge","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian J Sports Med"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-019-01163-0"},{"key":"2025083111054824000_9.3.e001573.48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.17159\/2078-516X\/2021\/v33i1a9505"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open Sport &amp; Exercise Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjsem-2023-001573","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,31]],"date-time":"2025-08-31T18:05:54Z","timestamp":1756663554000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopensem.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjsem-2023-001573"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,2]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjsem-2023-001573"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjsem-2023-001573","relation":{},"ISSN":["2055-7647"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2055-7647","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}}}