Kasper, AM, Sparks, SA, Hooks, M, Skeer, M, Webb, B, Nia, H, Morton, JP and Close, GL (2020) High Prevalence of Cannabidiol Use Within Male Professional Rugby Union and League Players: A Quest for Pain Relief and Enhanced Recovery. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 30 (5). pp. 315-322. ISSN 1526-484X

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Abstract

Rugby is characterized by frequent high-intensity collisions, resulting in muscle soreness. Players consequently seek strategies to reduce soreness and accelerate recovery, with an emerging method being cannabidiol (CBD), despite anti-doping risks. The prevalence and rationale for CBD use in rugby has not been explored; therefore, we recruited professional male players to complete a survey on CBD. Goodness of fit chi-square (χ2) was used to assess CBD use between codes and player position. Effects of age on use were determined using χ2 tests of independence. Twenty-five teams provided 517 player responses. While the majority of players had never used CBD (p < .001, V = 0.24), 26% had either used it (18%) or were still using it (8%). Significantly more CBD use was observed in rugby union compared with rugby league (p = .004, V = 0.13), but player position was not a factor (p = .760, V = 0.013). CBD use increased with players' age (p < .001, V = 0.28), with mean use reaching 41% in the players aged 28 years and older category (p < .0001). The players using CBD primarily used the Internet (73%) or another teammate (61%) to obtain information, with only 16% consulting a nutritionist. The main reasons for CBD use were improving recovery/pain (80%) and sleep (78%), with 68% of players reporting a perceived benefit. These data highlight the need for immediate education on the risks of CBD, as well as the need to explore the claims regarding pain and sleep.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1116 Medical Physiology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Human Kinetics
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	21 Aug 2020 12:30
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 06:47
DOI or ID number:	10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0151
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/13533

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