Citation

Spiotta AM, Bartsch AJ, Benzel EC. Neurosurgery 2012; 70(1): 1-11; discussion 11.

Affiliation

Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Congress of Neurological Surgeons)

DOI

10.1227/NEU.0b013e31823021b2

PMID

21811187

Abstract

Soccer is the world's most popular sport and unique in that players use their unprotected heads to intentionally deflect, stop, or redirect the ball for both offensive and defensive strategies. Headed balls travel at high velocity pre- and postimpact. Players, coaches, parents, and physicians are justifiably concerned with soccer heading injury risk. Furthermore, risk of long-term neurocognitive and motor deficits caused by repetitively heading a soccer ball remains unknown. We review the theoretical concerns, the results of biomechanical laboratory experiments, and the available clinical data regarding the effects of chronic, subconcussive head injury during heading in soccer.

Language: en