title: The relationship between impact force, neck strength, and neurocognitive performance in soccer heading in adolescent females. Effect of an acute bout of soccer heading on postural control and self-reported concussion symptoms. Effect of soccer heading ball speed on S100B, sideline concussion assessments and head impact kinematics Head Impact Exposure During a Weekend Youth Soccer Tournament Relationship of soccer heading to computerized neurocognitive performance and symptoms among female and male youth soccer players The Acute Neuropsychological Effects of Heading in Soccer: A Pilot Study
abstract: Head impacts are common in contact sports , but only recently has there been a rising awareness of the effects of subconcussive impacts in adolescent athletes . A better underst and ing of how to attenuate head impacts is needed and therefore , this study investigated the relationship between neck strength , impact , and neurocognitive function in an acute bout of soccer heading in a sample of female high school varsity soccer players . Seventeen participants completed the ImPACT neurocognitive test and had their isometric neck strength tested ( flexion , extension , and bilateral flexion ) before heading drills . Each participant was outfitted with custom headgear with timing switches and a three-dimensional accelerometer affixed to the back of the head , which allowed for measurement of impact during heading . Participants performed a series of 15 directional headers , including 5 forward , 5 left and 5 right headers in a r and om order , then completed the ImPACT test again . Neurocognitive tests revealed no significant changes following heading . However , there were statistically significant , moderate , negative correlations ( r = -0.500:-0.757 , p < .05 ) between neck strength and result ant header acceleration , indicating that those with weaker necks sustained greater impacts . This suggests neck strengthening may be an important component of any head injury prevention/reduction program Our purpose was to determine if an acute bout of heading soccer balls adversely affected postural control and self-reported symptoms of cerebral concussion .  Thirty-one college-aged soccer players were r and omly placed into either a kicking group or a heading group . Subjects either kicked or headed 18 soccer balls over the course of 40 minutes . Subjects had their  postural control assessed while st and ing on a force plate and completed a  concussion symptoms checklist  on three separate occasions : prior to , immediately following , and 24 hours after kicking or heading . There were no significant differences between the heading and kicking groups on the postural control measures prior to , immediately following , and 24 hours after kicking/heading . The heading group did , however , report significantly more concussion symptoms than the kicking group immediately after heading , but not 24 hours after heading . The number of previous concussions sustained by subjects did not influence the effects of heading . An acute bout of soccer heading appears to cause an increase in self-reported symptoms of cerebral concussion lasting less than 24 hours but no quantifiable deficits in postural control . Further research is needed to investigate the cumulative effects of soccer heading on postural control and other objective measures of brain function Abstract Objective : To examine the effect of soccer heading ball speed on S-100B serum concentration , concussion sideline assessment s and linear head impact acceleration . Methods : Sixteen division I soccer players participated in this pre-test post-test design study . Athletes performed five st and ing headers over a 10 minute period at 30 ( n = 5 ) , 40 ( n = 5 ) or 50 ( n = 6 ) miles per hour ( mph ) ( r and omized ) . S-100B serum concentration ( ng mL−1 ) and sideline concussion assessment s were measured prior to and post-heading . Peak result ant linear head acceleration ( gravitational units ; g ) was measured during soccer heading . Results : No statistically significant interaction effects were identified between ball velocity groups over time on S100B ( effect sizes ranged from 0.03–0.23 ) or concussion assessment s tests . There was a non-significant increase ( p = 0.06 ) in head impact acceleration from the 30 ( 30.6 ; SD = 6.2 g ) to 50 mph ( 50.7 ; SD = 7.7 g ) ball speed . Conclusions : In this controlled setting , an acute bout of soccer heading across various ball velocities did not affect S100B or concussion assessment test scores . These findings are preliminary , as the small sample size in each group may have played a role in the lack of significant findings Concussion is a known risk in youth soccer , but little is known about subconcussive head impacts . The authors provided a prospect i ve cohort study measuring frequency and magnitude of subconcussive head impacts using accelerometry in a middle school – age soccer tournament , and association between head impacts and changes in ( 1 ) symptoms , ( 2 ) cognitive testing , and ( 3 ) advanced neuroimaging .  A total of 17 youth completed the study ( 41 % female , mean 12.6 years ) . There were 73 head impacts > 15 g measured ( 45 % headers ) and only 2 had a maximum peak linear acceleration > 50 g . No youth reported symptoms consistent with concussion . After correction for multiple comparisons and a sensitivity analysis excluding clear outliers , no significant associations were found between head impact exposure and neuropsychological testing or advanced neuroimaging . The authors conclude that head impacts were relatively uncommon and low in acceleration in youth playing a weekend soccer tournament . This study adds to the limited data regarding head impacts in youth soccer Primary objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between soccer heading and computerized neurocognitive performance and symptoms in female and male youth soccer players . Research design : Cross-sectional and prospect i ve design . Methods and procedures : A total of 63 ( 27 females , 36 males ) youth soccer players aged 13–18 years ( M = 15.89 , SD = 1.17 ) participated in the study . Participants completed the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test ( ImPACT ) and symptom report . Main outcomes : Computerized neurocognitive performance ( e.g. , verbal and visual memory , motor processing , and reaction time ) and symptoms . Results : There were no differences in neurocognitive performance or symptoms among low- , moderate- , and high-exposure header groups . The current sample outperformed the 10th percentile norms for neurocognitive and symptom scores . Males headed the ball more frequently and reported lower verbal and visual memory and motor processing speed scores than females . Conclusion : The current findings did not support a relationship between soccer heading and computerized neurocognitive performance and symptoms . The research ers suggest that any purported effects of soccer heading in youth are subtle and may affect only a small number of athletes . The reported sex differences in heading exposure warrant further attention Objective The main objective of this study was to prospect ively examine the acute effects of heading in soccer on cognitive function . Design This was a prospect i ve cross-over study using a brief neuropsychological battery to assess cognitive function . The tests were performed before and after two separate practice sessions , with athletes serving as their own controls . Setting Male and female Division I college athletes . Participants Members of the men 's and women 's varsity collegiate Penn State University soccer teams . Forty-four males and 56 females entered and finished the study . All athletes had a normal physical examination . Interventions Before and after both practice sessions , all athletes had a brief battery of neuropsychological tests and a symptom checklist . Main Outcome Measures Neuropsychological tests symptom checklist compared at baseline with those after the practice sessions . Results There were no significant differences in pretest scores between groups and no difference on posttest scores between heading and nonheading groups . A significant difference was detected using MANOVA ( p = < 0.001 ) between pre- and posttest scores for measures of attention and concentration , indicating a practice effect . A gender-specific effect in one test measuring attention and concentration was found . There was no difference in symptoms before and after heading as compared with exertional controls . Conclusions In this study , soccer players heading the ball does not appear to lead to acute changes in cognitive function as assessed by a brief neuropsychological battery . There are practice effects that occur with repetitive neuropsychological testing and gender differences with certain tests
target: The overall results of r and om effects modelling of football heading were found to be inconclusive across all outcomes , groups and time points .
  No moderating variables related to method ological , sample or study characteristics were supported in the analysis ; age was a potential moderating variable .
  Summary / conclusions We provide the first meta-analytical review of football heading effects aggregated from multiple studies and extended findings from a recent systematic review of the effects of football heading .
  Our analysis indicates no overall effect for heading a football on adverse outcomes
background: Aim / objective The objective of this study was to provide a meta- analysis examining the effects of football heading .
  Design Meta-analytical review on football heading effects on neurocognitive performance , cognition and symptom reports .