Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shima Espahbodi, Eef Hogervorst, Tara-Mei Povall Macnab, Ahmed Thanoon, Gwen Sacha Fernandes, Bonnie Millar, Ashley Duncan, Maria Goodwin, Mark Batt, Colin W. Fuller, Gordon Fuller, Eamonn Ferguson, Tobias Bast, Michael Doherty, Weiya Zhang
Summary: This study suggests that repetitive heading during a professional soccer career is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in later life. Further study is needed to establish the upper threshold for heading frequency to mitigate this risk.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
David Smith, Frank T. J. M. Zaal, Daniel Memmert
Summary: This study examines how two soccer players coordinate their actions to intercept a thrown ball, and discusses two different explanations. The results indicate that coordination is an emergent phenomenon that requires further investigation.
RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Manoel E. Silva-Neto, Saulo F. M. Oliveira, Jose Igor V. Oliveira, Willemax S. Gomes, Hugo A. A. S. Lira, Leonardo S. Fortes
Summary: This study compared the effects of four conditioning activities on jump and sprint performances in soccer players. The results showed that combined conditioning and strength training activities significantly improved sprint and jump abilities, while static stretching had no significant effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Afxentios Kekelekis, Zoe Kounali, Nikolaos Kofotolis, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Eleftherios Kellis
Summary: The purpose of this study was to monitor and analyze injuries in Greek amateur male soccer players over one competitive season. Injury data and exposure were collected from six teams during training and competition matches. A total of 103 injuries were recorded during the season, with higher injury rates in the posterior thigh and hip/groin complex. Amateur soccer players had a seven-fold greater chance of getting injured during games compared to training, and injury rates were higher towards the end of a session and peaked in October and February.
Article
Sport Sciences
Rebecca Reeschke, Franziska Katharina Haase, Lena Dautzenberg, Werner Krutsch, Claus Reinsberger
Summary: This longitudinal study used standardized video analysis to examine heading exposure in children's and youth football. The study found that there were more headers in training sessions compared to matches, and Under-15 males had the highest heading exposure during training. The majority of headers had a flight distance of 5-20 meters, and a significant number of headers in matches hit different regions of the head in the Under-11 age group.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Victoria E. Wahlquist, Thomas W. Kaminski
Summary: This study examined the effects of soccer heading on balance, neurocognitive function, and head impact biomechanics in youth female soccer players, finding no significant changes after intervention but deficits in SWAY tests post-season. Coaches and researchers noted an improvement in heading technique/form and suggested the use of lightweight soccer balls for safer training and increased confidence.
Review
Critical Care Medicine
Taylor Snowden, Hannah Reid, Samantha Kennedy, Rebecca Kenny, Amanda McQuarrie, Lynneth Stuart-Hill, Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera, Jodie Gawryluk, Brian R. Christie
Summary: This systematic review examined the effects of heading on youth and young adult soccer players, finding that due to lack of standardization, no conclusive methods could be identified to assess the impact of heading on players.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Molly F. Charney, Kenny Q. Ye, Roman Fleysher, Bluye DeMessie, Walter F. Stewart, Molly E. Zimmerman, Mimi Kim, Richard B. Lipton, Michael L. Lipton
Summary: The study aimed to assess the role of age at first exposure to soccer heading in predicting adverse associations with brain microstructure, cognitive, and behavioral features among adult amateur soccer players. The findings suggested that starting heading at age 10 or younger was associated with better performance in working memory and verbal learning. No differences in brain microstructure or behavioral measures were observed between the two exposure groups.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca Piccarducci, Chiara Giacomelli, Maria Sofia Bertilacchi, Andrea Benito-Martinez, Nicoletta Di Giorgi, Simona Daniele, Giovanni Signore, Silvia Rocchiccioli, Marcal Vilar, Laura Marchetti, Claudia Martini
Summary: The ApoE epsilon 4 polymorphic variant is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) due to its effects on cholesterol metabolism and cholinergic pathway impairment. In this study, in vitro cholinergic neuron models were used to investigate the interplay between ApoE epsilon 4-related cholesterol metabolism dysregulation and cholinergic system degeneration. The results showed that ApoE epsilon 4 expression led to intracellular cholesterol accumulation and reduced acetylcholine synthesis, resulting in cholinergic pathway impairment and neuronal death.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
George Kakavas, Nikolaos Malliaropoulos, Wieslaw Blach, Georgios Bikos, Filippo Migliorini, Nicola Maffulli
Summary: This article explores the potential connection between ACL injuries and ball heading in soccer players, suggesting that neurocognitive alterations after heading the ball may increase the risk of ACL injuries.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Artur Avelino Birk Preissler, Pedro Schons, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Guilherme Droescher de Vargas, Lucas Moraes Klein, Ana Filipa Silva, Hadi Nobari, Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel
Summary: The evolution of female soccer is related to high-intensity actions and choosing abilities that characterize players' performance. This study aimed to analyze the correlations between performance in sprint and change-of-direction tests in professional female soccer players. The results showed significant correlations between sprint performance with and without the ball, as well as between sprint tests without the ball and change-of-direction tests.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Shari Langdon, Edwin Goedhart, Jaap Oosterlaan, Marsh Konigs
Summary: This study aims to quantify heading exposure in real-life elite football. The results show that adult players have higher mean heading exposure compared to adolescent players, and male players have higher maximum heading exposure compared to female players. The flight course of the ball and the type of heading also contribute to heading exposure.
MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Victoria E. Wahlquist, Thomas A. Buckley, Jaclyn B. Caccese, Joseph J. Glutting, Todd D. Royer, Thomas W. Kaminski
Summary: Since the release of the US Soccer heading guidelines in 2015, there has been a lack of research on ball-head impact exposure in the youth soccer population in the United States. This study aimed to compare ball-head impact exposure between different sexes and age groups during a weekend tournament. The results showed that male players were more likely to experience ball-head impacts than female players, particularly in the U14 age group compared to the U12 age group. Overall, most players had minimal ball-head impact exposure, with the average player heading the ball only once per game.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Victoria E. Wahlquist, Thomas A. Buckley, Jaclyn B. Caccese, Joseph J. Glutting, Todd D. Royer, Thomas W. Kaminski
Summary: Little research has been conducted on ball-head impact exposure in the US youth soccer population since the implementation of the US Soccer heading guidelines in 2015. This study aimed to compare ball-head impact exposure across sex and age during a weekend tournament for youth soccer players. Results showed that male players were more likely to experience ball-head impacts than female players, particularly in the U14 age group compared to the U12 age group. The overall level of ball-head impact exposure was low, with most players experiencing 0-1 impacts per game.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Okba Selmi, Hilmi Jelleli, Souheir Bouali, Bilel Aydi, Omar Hindawi, Antonella Muscella, Anissa Bouassida, Katja Weiss, Beat Knechtle
Summary: This study investigated the impacts of verbal encouragement (VE) given by coaches during repeated agility speed training on the physiological aspects, internal intensity, mood, and perceived enjoyment of youth soccer players. The results showed that coach's VE can improve the psychophysiological responses, mood state, and perceived enjoyment in youth soccer players.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)