Examining the relationship between purposeful heading and neurocognitive performance during the playing careers of female collegiate soccer players
Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Context: Despite the popularity of soccer worldwide, there is considerable risk for injury including concussions as well as the potential for repetitive head impact exposure. It is important to determine if purposeful heading has a detrimental effect to the brain and if there are cumulative effects resulting in impaired neurocognitive functioning. Objective: The primary aim was to identify if there is a relationship between purposeful heading and measures of neurocognitive test performance in female collegiate soccer players over a career span. The secondary aim of this study was to identify if there is a difference between the total number of headers and measures of neurocognitive test performance between female soccer players of different field positions (offense, midfield and defense). Design: Retrospective longitudinal study. Setting: Intercollegiate soccer fields as well as a climate controlled neurocognitive testing environment Participants: Eighty-eight collegiate women’s soccer players with ranging careers from two to four playing seasons over the last 15 years. Interventions: Prior to the first soccer season each athlete completed a computerized neurocognitive test that served as a baseline measure to all subsequent tests administered. At the conclusion of each season the test was performed again. The number of headers by each athlete were tallied using a simple tally system for both soccer matches and practices. Main Outcome Measures: Total headers over the playing career, ImPACT composite scores including total symptom score. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between heading and neurocognitive test performance over the playing career. In addition, analysis of covariance was used to better understand differences between playing positions. Results: The number of headers varied by playing position (offense, midfield, defense), however there were no significant relationships between total headers during a collegiate career and the neurocognitive performance measures as well as total symptom score. Likewise, there were no significant differences in neurocognitive scores and symptoms across the three different playing positions. Conclusion: In our cohort of collegiate female soccer players there appears to be no detrimental effects on neurocognitive performance and related concussion symptoms, despite a career associated with repetitive head impacts from purposeful heading in soccer.
Description
Keywords
Health and environmental sciences, Education, Concussion, Repetitive head impacts, Soccer, Subconcussion