The Relationship Between Impact Force, Neck Strength, and Neurocognitive Performance in Soccer Heading in Adolescent Females

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 understanding 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 random 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 resultant 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.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of football heading

“…Effect size for age was not significant. Seventeen studies sought to determine the impact of football heading on neurocognitive performance, including attention/concentration (k=11), impulse control (k=2), reaction time (k=3), processing speed (k=10), verbal memory (k=16) and visual memory (k=11) 8 13–16 28 33 34 36 37 42–47 49 50. Generally, the effect sizes were small, with the largest effect supported for reaction time (g=0.28).…”

Validation and calibration of HeadCount, a self-report measure for quantifying heading exposure in soccer players

“…Moreover, this method is not suitable for quantifying heading in amateur players who are not typically tracked by coaches or athletic trainers. Wearable accelerometers are attractive because they offer the promise of quantitative characterization of head impacts (Gutierrez, Conte, & Lightbourne, 2014; McCuen et al, 2015) and because they are becoming smaller and thus less cumbersome to wear during athletics, as well as more affordable (Ciuti, Ricotti, Menciassi, & Dario, 2015). However, the reliability and validity of these devices has been shown to be low in soccer (Press & Rowson, 2016), and they still require confirmation with direct observation or analysis of video to determine impact types (Hanlon & Bir, 2012).…”

Concussion-Prevention Strategies Used in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I and II Women's Soccer

“…14 In addition, neck strength was negatively correlated with header acceleration in high school female soccer athletes. 15 Less overall neck strength has been significantly correlated with concussion rates in basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. 16 Accordingly, researchers 6,13,16 have indicated that neck-strengthening exercises might be a preventive tool and emphasized the need for further, more definitive research.…”