Heading Soccer Ball Doesn't Cause Brain Damage: Study

A new study finds no support that purposeful "heading" of a soccer ball leads to either short-term (acute) or cumulative brain damage, such as cognitive dysfunction.

The authors called for additional study to provide proof of neuropsychological consequences of subconcussive soccer-related head injuries.

The study, by the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness Executive Committee, is reported in the February 2010 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The new study contradicts earlier studies, including one by researchers at Florida Tech in 2003, which suggested that heading in soccer may result in the short term in weaker mental performance, including a decline in cognitive function, difficulty in verbal learning, planning and maintaining attention and reduced information processing speed.

Preventing head injuries

While concluding that "the contribution of purposeful 'heading' of the soccer ball to both acute and potential long-term concussive effects, such as cognitive disfunction, seems less controversial today than previously," the authors nevertheless felt that  efforts to reduce potential injury from heading the soccer ball were still warranted. 

Echoing the advice of other experts, the panel recommended:

• Delayed teaching of heading. The panel recommended that heading of the ball only be taught when the child is  old enough to learn proper technique and has developed coordinated use of his or her head, neck, and trunk to properly contract the neck muscles and contact the ball with the forehead.   In doing so, it noted that the American Youth Soccer Organization  (AYSO), with 650,000 participants, does not teach purposeful heading to players under age 10.  

• Use of age-appropriate balls.  "Although proper technique is foremost in reducing the risk of concussion from heading the ball," the study says, "it is also imperative that soccer balls be water-resistant, sized appropriately for age, and not hyperinflated; and
  

• Strict rules enforcement.  Citing statistics that foul play has been associated with a significant number of contact-related injuries, with girls' (11.9%) and boys' (11.4%) soccer just behind girls' basketball (14%) as the sports with the highest rates of such injuries, most of which were concussions or other head/facial injuries, the panel joined in the consensus recommendation of experts that proper rules enforcement and limitation of violent contact, with officials controlling the physicality of the game and emphasizing safe play with respect for one's opponents, could play a significant role in reducing contact injuries in soccer.

Soccer helmets: recommendation premature

The panel acknowledged that one study had found that found that an association between the use of soft soccer helmets and a reduction in concussions and soft tissue injuries compared with no helmet, without increasing the risk of injury to areas not covered by the head gear.

It nevetheless concluded that the currently available data, combined with a lack of uniform safety standards and regulations, were "insufficient" to support a finding that soft helmets prevented head injuries such that universal support of soft helmets was "premature at this time."   

Created January 29, 2010