TY  - JOUR
T1  - Is Cognitive Performance Deficiency a Potential Outcome in Rugby Players? A Study Based on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test
TT  - Ragbi Sporcularında Bilişsel Performans Eksikliği Olası Bir Sonuç mudur? Sembol Sayı Modaliteleri Testi Temelli Bir Araştırma
AU  - Çemç, Muhammed Sıddık
AU  - Madak, Enes
AU  - Sönmez, Hüseyin Ozan
PY  - 2025
DA  - March
Y2  - 2025
JF  - Spor ve Bilim Dergisi
JO  - SportsSci
PB  - Erzurum Technical University
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2980-2067
SP  - 46
EP  - 56
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
LA  - en
AB  - The aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate the cognitive performance of Turkish rugby players by comparing the data obtained through the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) with that of a healthy control group. The study included 44 male athletes actively engaged in rugby at three different rugby clubs in Istanbul and a control group consisting of 40 healthy male volunteers residing in Istanbul who had no prior involvement in any contact sports. Participants were administered three separate SDMTs with 10-minute rest intervals between each test. Data analysis was conducted using JASP version 0.19, and the significance level was set at p  < 0.05. When the SDMT results were compared between the groups, it was observed that the control group had significantly higher scores in SDMT-1, SDMT-2, and SDMT-3 compared to the rugby players. In the within-group analysis of SDMT results, both the rugby players and the control group demonstrated significant improvements in scores across SDMT-1, SDMT-2, and SDMT-3, respectively. In conclusion, rugby players scored lower than the control group on this test, which assesses cognitive functions such as visual scanning, information processing speed, attention, and motor speed. These findings suggest that collisions and impacts experienced by rugby players may have adverse effects on cognitive functions. Additionally, the observed within-group performance improvements in repeated tests for both groups may be associated with the participants’ cognitive adaptation to the task. The findings of this study highlight the risk of cognitive performance deficits in rugby players and underscore the importance of implementing measures to protect their neurocognitive health. Thus, it is recommended that regular evaluation programs and screenings for cognitive functions be established for these athletes. Furthermore, educational programs aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of collisions, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of protective equipment such as helmets, are suggested to support the cognitive health of rugby players.
KW  - Cognitive Performance
KW  - Neuropsychology
KW  - Rugby
N2  - Bu araştırmanın amacı Türk ragbi sporcularından, Sembol Sayı Modaliteleri Testi (SDMT) dahilinde elde edilecek olan verileri sağlıklı kontrol grubu ile karşılaştırarak analiz etmek ve bilişsel performans açısından değerlendirmeye çalışmaktır. Bu kapsamda çalışmaya İstanbul ilinde bulunan üç farklı ragbi kulübünde aktif spor hayatına devam eden 44 erkek sporcu ile kontrol grubu olarak İstanbul’da ikamet eden herhangi bir temas sporu ile ilgilenmemiş sağlıklı 40 erkek gönüllü dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılar 10 dakika dinlenme aralıkları ile 3 farklı Sembol Sayı Modaliteleri Testi (SDMT) uygulamıştır. Elde edilen sonuçların veri analizi işlemleri JASP 0.19 programı kullanılarak tamamlanmıştır. Analizler için anlamlılık düzeyi p
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UR  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/sporvebilim/issue//1582004
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4351604
ER  -