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Hack L, Singh B, Binkofski F, Helmich I. Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impacts in Sports and Their Impact on Brain Anatomy and Function: A Systematic Review. Int J Sports Med 2024. [PMID: 38857880 DOI: 10.1055/a-2342-3604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive subconcussive head impacts occur regularly in sports. However, the exact relationship between their biomechanical properties and their consequences on brain structure and function has not been clarified yet. We therefore reviewed prospective cohort studies that objectively reported the biomechanical characteristics of repetitive subconcussive head impacts and their impact on brain anatomy and function. Only studies with a pre- to post-measurement design were included. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Structural white matter alterations, such as reduced fractional anisotropy and an increase in mean diffusivity values, seem to be evident in athletes exposed to repetitive subconcussive head impacts exceeding 10 g. Such changes are observable after only one season of play. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship exists between white matter abnormalities and the total number of subconcussive head impacts. However, functional changes after repetitive subconcussive head impacts remain inconclusive. We therefore conclude that repetitive subconcussive head impacts induce structural changes, but thus far without overt functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Hack
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University Cologne, Koln, Germany
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bhagyashree Singh
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University Cologne, Koln, Germany
| | - Ferdinand Binkofski
- Clinical Cognitive Sciences, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen , Germany
| | - Ingo Helmich
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University Cologne, Koln, Germany
- Department of Exercise and Sport Studies, Smith College, Northampton, United States
- Department of Neurology, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychiatry, German Sport University Cologne, Koln, Germany
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2
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Peek K, Ross A, Andersen TE, Meyer T, Dahlen S, Georgieva J, Williamson PR, Clarke M, Serner A. Heading in football: a systematic review of descriptors, definitions, and reporting methods used in heading incidence studies. SCI MED FOOTBALL 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38855969 DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2024.2362191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The primary objective of this systematic review was to describe the number and type of heading descriptors used in all published studies which report on heading incidence in football. The secondary objective was to detail the data collection and reporting methods used in the included studies to present heading incidence data. Eligible studies were identified through searches of five electronic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, using a combination of free-text keywords (inception to 12th September 2023). Manual searching of reference lists and retrieved systematic reviews was also performed. A descriptive overview and synthesis of the results is presented. From 1620 potentially eligible studies, 71 studies were included, with the following key findings: 1) only 61% of studies defined a header with even fewer (23%) providing an operational definition of a header within the methods; 2) important study and player demographic data including year and country were often not reported; 3) reported heading descriptors and their coding options varied greatly; 4) visual identification of headers was essential when inertial measurement units were used to collect heading incidence data; and 5) there was a lack of standardisation in the reporting methods used in heading incidence studies making comparison between studies challenging. To address these findings, the development of a standardised, internationally supported, operational definition of a header and related heading descriptors should be prioritised. Further recommendations include the development of minimum reporting criteria for heading incidence research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Peek
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Ross
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Physiotherapy Department, College of Sport, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thor Einar Andersen
- Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
- The Norwegian Football Association's Sports Medical Centre, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tim Meyer
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany
| | - Sara Dahlen
- Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Julia Georgieva
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Paula R Williamson
- Department of Health Data Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mike Clarke
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Andreas Serner
- FIFA Medical, Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Zuleger TM, Slutsky-Ganesh AB, Grooms DR, Yuan W, Barber Foss KD, Howell DR, Myer GD, Diekfuss JA. High magnitude exposure to repetitive head impacts alters female adolescent brain activity for lower extremity motor control. Brain Res 2024; 1828:148785. [PMID: 38272157 PMCID: PMC11110884 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Contact and collision sport participation among adolescent athletes has raised concerns about the potential negative effects of cumulative repetitive head impacts (RHIs) on brain function. Impairments from RHIs and sports-related concussions (SRC) may propagate into lingering neuromuscular control. However, the neural mechanisms that link RHIs to altered motor control processes remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to isolate changes in neural activity for a lower extremity motor control task associated with the frequency and magnitude of RHI exposure. A cohort of fifteen high school female soccer players participated in a prospective longitudinal study and underwent pre- and post-season functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During fMRI, athletes completed simultaneous bilateral ankle, knee, and hip flexion/extension movements against resistance (bilateral leg press) to characterize neural activity associated with lower extremity motor control. RHI data were binned into continuous categories between 20 g - 120 g (defined by progressively greater intervals), with the number of impacts independently modeled within the fMRI analyses. Results revealed that differential exposure to high magnitude RHIs (≥90 g - < 110 g and ≥ 110 g) was associated with acute changes in neural activity for the bilateral leg press (broadly inclusive of motor, visual, and cognitive regions; all p < 0.05 & z > 3.1). Greater exposure to high magnitude RHIs may impair lower extremity motor control through maladaptive neural mechanisms. Future work is warranted to extend these mechanistic findings and examine the linkages between RHI exposure and neural activity as it relates to subsequent neuromuscular control deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Zuleger
- Emory Sports Performance And Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; University of Cincinnati, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Alexis B Slutsky-Ganesh
- Emory Sports Performance And Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Dustin R Grooms
- Ohio Musculoskeletal & Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA; Division of Athletic Training, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA; Division of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences, College of Health Science and Professions, Ohio University, Grover Center, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Weihong Yuan
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kim D Barber Foss
- Emory Sports Performance And Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David R Howell
- Sports Medicine Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Gregory D Myer
- Emory Sports Performance And Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, UK; The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Jed A Diekfuss
- Emory Sports Performance And Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Huber CM, Patton DA, Rownd KR, Patterson Gentile C, Master CL, Arbogast KB. Neurophysiological Effects of Repeated Soccer Heading in Youth. J Biomech Eng 2023; 145:091005. [PMID: 37216312 PMCID: PMC10259471 DOI: 10.1115/1.4062423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Repeated head loading in sports is associated with negative long-term brain health, and there is growing evidence of short-term neurophysiological changes after repeated soccer heading. The objective of this study was to quantify the head kinematics and effects of repetitive soccer headers in adolescents using an instrumented mouthguard. Adolescent soccer players aged 13-18 years were randomly assigned to a kicking control, frontal heading, or oblique heading group. Participants completed neurophysiological assessments at three-time points: immediately prior to, immediately after, and approximately 24 h after completing 10 headers or kicks. The suite of assessments included the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory, visio-vestibular exam, King-Devick test, modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance with force plate sway measurement, pupillary light reflex, and visual evoked potential. Data were collected for 19 participants (17 male). Frontal headers resulted in significantly higher peak resultant linear acceleration (17.4 ± 0.5 g) compared to oblique headers (12.1 ± 0.4 g, p < 0.001), and oblique headers resulted in significantly higher peak resultant angular acceleration (frontal: 1147 ± 45 rad/s2, oblique: 1410 ± 65 rad/s2, p < 0.001). There were no neurophysiological deficits for either heading group or significant differences from controls at either post-heading timepoint, and therefore, a bout of repeated headers did not result in changes in the neurophysiological measures evaluated in this study. The current study provided data regarding the direction of headers with the goal to reduce the risk of repetitive head loading for adolescent athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Huber
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146
| | - Declan A. Patton
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146
| | - Kathryn R. Rownd
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146
| | - Carlyn Patterson Gentile
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146; Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Christina L. Master
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146; Sports Medicine and Performance Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Kristy B. Arbogast
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19146; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Sundaram V, Sundar V, Pearce AJ. Biomechanical characteristics of concussive and sub-concussive impacts in youth sports athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37393593 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2231317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to quantitatively investigate and report the biomechanical characteristics of concussive and sub-concussive impacts in youth sports. A systematic search was conducted in September 2022 to identify biomechanical impact studies in athletes ≤18 years of age. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria for quantitative synthesis and analysis. DerSimonian Laird random effects model was used to pool data across the included studies. The pooled estimate of mean peak linear and rotational acceleration of concussive impacts in male youth athletes was 85.56 g (95% CI 69.34-101.79) and 4505.58 rad/s2 (95% CI 2870.28-6140.98), respectively. The pooled estimate of mean peak linear and rotational acceleration of sub-concussive impacts in youth athletes was 22.89 g (95% CI 20.69-25.08) and 1290.13 rad/s2 (95% CI 1050.71-1529.55), respectively. A male vs female analysis in sub-concussive impacts revealed higher linear and rotational acceleration in males and females, respectively. This is the first study to report on impact data in both sexes of youth athletes. Disparity in kinematic impact values suggests future research should aim for standardised measures to reduce heterogeneity in data. Despite this, the data reveals notable impact data that youth athletes are exposed to, suggesting modifications may be required to reduce long-term neurological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasanth Sundaram
- Department of Sports Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai, India
| | - Viswanath Sundar
- Physical Education and Sports Science, Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal, India
| | - Alan J Pearce
- College of Science, Health, and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia
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Basinas I, McElvenny DM, Pearce N, Gallo V, Cherrie JW. A Systematic Review of Head Impacts and Acceleration Associated with Soccer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095488. [PMID: 35564889 PMCID: PMC9100160 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies of the neurological health of former professional soccer players are being undertaken to identify whether heading the ball is a risk factor for disease or premature death. A quantitative estimate of exposure to repeated sub-concussive head impacts would provide an opportunity to investigate possible exposure-response relationships. However, it is unclear how to formulate an appropriate exposure metric within the context of epidemiological studies. We have carried out a systematic review of the scientific literature to identify the factors that determine the magnitude of head impact acceleration during experiments and from observations during playing or training for soccer, up to the end of November 2021. Data were extracted from 33 experimental and 27 observational studies from male and female amateur players including both adults and children. There was a high correlation between peak linear and angular accelerations in the observational studies (p < 0.001) although the correlation was lower for the experimental data. We chose to rely on an analysis of maximum or peak linear acceleration for this review. Differences in measurement methodology were identified as important determinants of measured acceleration, and we concluded that only data from accelerometers fixed to the head provided reliable information about the magnitude of head acceleration from soccer-related impacts. Exposures differed between men and women and between children and adults, with women on average experiencing higher acceleration but less frequent impacts. Playing position appears to have some influence on the number of heading impacts but less so on the magnitude of the head acceleration. Head-to-head collisions result in high levels of exposure and thus probably risk causing a concussion. We concluded, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that estimates of the cumulative number of heading impacts over a playing career should be used as the main exposure metric in epidemiological studies of professional players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Basinas
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK; (I.B.); (D.M.M.)
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Damien M. McElvenny
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK; (I.B.); (D.M.M.)
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Neil Pearce
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Valentina Gallo
- Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, 8911 CE Leeuwarden, The Netherlands;
| | - John W. Cherrie
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK; (I.B.); (D.M.M.)
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
- Correspondence:
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Filben TM, Pritchard NS, Miller LE, Miles CM, Urban JE, Stitzel JD. Header biomechanics in youth and collegiate female soccer. J Biomech 2021; 128:110782. [PMID: 34656012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Concerns about the effects of intentional heading in soccer have led to regulatory restrictions on headers for youth players. However, there is limited data describing how header exposure varies across age levels, and few studies have attempted to compare head impact exposure across different levels of play with the same sensor. Additionally, little is known about the biomechanical response of the brain to header impacts. The objective of this study was to evaluate head kinematics and the resulting tissue-level brain strain associated with intentional headers among youth and collegiate female soccer players. Six youth and 13 collegiate participants were instrumented with custom mouthpiece-based sensors measuring six-degree-of-freedom head kinematics of headers during practices and games. Kinematics of film-verified headers were used to drive impact simulations with a detailed brain finite element model to estimate tissue-level strain. Linear and rotational head kinematics and strain metrics, specifically 95th percentile maximum principal strain (ε1,95) and the area under the cumulative strain damage measure curve (VSM1), were compared across levels of play (i.e., youth vs. collegiate) while adjusting for session type and ball delivery method. A total of 483 headers (n = 227 youth, n = 256 collegiate) were analyzed. Level of play was significantly associated with linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, rotational velocity, ε1,95, and VSM1. Headers performed by collegiate players had significantly greater mean head kinematics and strain metrics compared to those performed by youth players (all p < .001). Targeted interventions aiming to reduce head impact magnitude in soccer should consider factors associated with the level of play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner M Filben
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - N Stewart Pritchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Logan E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher M Miles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jillian E Urban
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Joel D Stitzel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Blyth RJ, Alcock M, Tumilty DS. Why are female soccer players experiencing a concussion more often than their male counterparts? A scoping review. Phys Ther Sport 2021; 52:54-68. [PMID: 34419893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of concussion is particularly high in female soccer players. There is no consensus as to why female soccer players are at an elevated risk. OBJECTIVE To synthesise current evidence investigating reasons for the increased concussion rate in female soccer players. SOURCES Searching of six databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, SportDiscus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library) and grey literature was performed between 13/07/2020-31/07/2020. Keywords were concussion-related terms, terms relating to female football/soccer and terms relating to the mechanism/cause. No constraints were placed on publication date and quantitative or exploratory studies meeting inclusion criteria were eligible. Exclusion criteria were studies not published in English and qualitative studies. RESULTS Several hypotheses were identified to explain increased concussion rates in female soccer players, these include, reduced neck strength/anthropometrics, increased head acceleration, increased ball-to-head concussions, differences in hormones and brain structure/function, and reduced visual awareness. CONCLUSION Promising ideas/reasons have been identified for increased concussion rates in female soccer players. Despite hypothesis generation there is scarce high-level evidence which is required to guide injury prevention and/or rule changes to protect female soccer players. The level of evidence for included studies is level 2-3 with most being observational cross-sectional or cohort studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Jane Blyth
- School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Mark Alcock
- School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Dr Steve Tumilty
- School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
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McCunn R, Beaudouin F, Stewart K, Meyer T, MacLean J. Heading in Football: Incidence, Biomechanical Characteristics and the Association with Acute Cognitive Function-A Three-Part Systematic Review. Sports Med 2021; 51:2147-2163. [PMID: 34129222 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-021-01492-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing concern surrounding the role of repetitive sub-concussive head impacts, such as football heading, on brain health. OBJECTIVES Three questions were addressed while only considering studies that observed heading exposure directly: (1) how frequently does heading occur within football training and matches, (2) what are the biomechanical characteristics of heading, and (3) is cognitive function affected by heading? METHODS This review followed the steps described in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic databases including MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus were searched from the earliest entry to July 2020. Studies that reported independently quantified heading exposure, biomechanical characteristics of heading or the relationship between heading and cognitive function were included. Data were extracted and used to populate summary tables with reference to each research question. RESULTS Heading incidence ranged between one to nine headers per player per match. The number of headers observed in small-sided games during training varied depending on the exact format used but generally speaking ranged between zero to one per player per game. The three most commonly reported biomechanical variables were head acceleration, head rotational velocity and overall movement kinematics during the heading action. Average head acceleration ranged from approximately four to 50 g. Nine out of 12 included studies did not observe a negative impact on cognitive test performance following exposure to heading and while three did, these negative effects were limited to specific outcome measures: reaction time and memory function. CONCLUSION The current weight of evidence summarised herein does not support the notion that heading is deleterious to cognitive performance in the short term; however, this conclusion is tentative due to methodological shortcomings in the existing evidence base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert McCunn
- Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Tynecastle Park , Edinburgh, EH11 2NL, UK.
| | - Florian Beaudouin
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Katy Stewart
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Hampden Sports Clinic, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tim Meyer
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - John MacLean
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Hampden Sports Clinic, Glasgow, UK
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10
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Huber CM, Patton DA, Jain D, Master CL, Margulies SS, McDonald CC, Arbogast KB. Variations in Head Impact Rates in Male and Female High School Soccer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1245-1251. [PMID: 33986230 PMCID: PMC8122001 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Repetitive head impacts in soccer have been linked to short-term neurophysiological deficits, and female soccer players have higher concussion rates than males. These findings have inspired investigation into gender differences in head impact exposure and how head impact rate contributes to the cumulative effect of head impact exposure on neurological outcomes. Various periods of exposure have been used to calculate head impact rates, including head impacts per season, game, and player-hour. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to apply different methodological approaches to quantify and compare head impact rates by gender for two seasons of high school varsity soccer. METHODS Video review was used to confirm all events recorded by a headband-mounted impact sensor and calculate playing time for all players. Impact rates were calculated per athlete exposure (presence and participation) and per player-hour (scheduled game time, individual play time, and absolute time). RESULTS Impact rates per athlete exposure ranged from 2.5 to 3.2 for males and from 1.4 to 1.6 for females, and impact rates per player-hour ranged from 2.7 to 3.8 for males and from 1.0 to 1.6 for females. The exposure calculation method significantly affected head impact rates; however, regardless of approach, the head impact rate for males was higher, up to threefold, than for females. Individual head impact exposure varied substantially within a team with one in five players experiencing no impacts. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the gender differences found in this study indicate that males experience higher head impact exposure compared with females. Future studies are needed to understand potential clinical implications of variability in head impact exposure and reconcile higher female concussion rates with the reduced head impact rates presented herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Huber
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA,Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Declan A. Patton
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Divya Jain
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA,Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Christina L. Master
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,Sports Medicine and Performance Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Susan S. Margulies
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Catherine C. McDonald
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kristy B. Arbogast
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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11
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Huber CM, Patton DA, McDonald CC, Jain D, Simms K, Lallo VA, Margulies SS, Master CL, Arbogast KB. Sport- and Gender-Based Differences in Head Impact Exposure and Mechanism in High School Sports. Orthop J Sports Med 2021; 9:2325967120984423. [PMID: 33738313 PMCID: PMC7933779 DOI: 10.1177/2325967120984423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Repeated head impacts sustained by athletes have been linked to short-term neurophysiologic deficits; thus, there is growing concern about the number of head impacts sustained in sports. Accurate head impact exposure data obtained via head impact sensors may help identify appropriate strategies across sports and between genders to mitigate repetitive head impacts. Purpose: To quantify sport- and gender-based differences in head impact rate and mechanism for adolescents. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: High school female and male varsity soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey (female only) teams were instrumented with headband-mounted impact sensors during games over 2 seasons of soccer and 1 season of basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Video review was used to remove false-positive sensor-recorded events, and the head impact rate per athlete-exposure (AE) was calculated. Impact mechanism was categorized as equipment to head, fall, player to head, or head to ball (soccer only). Results: Male players had significantly higher head impact rates as compared with female players in soccer (3.08 vs 1.41 impacts/AE; rate ratio, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.8-2.6]), basketball (0.90 vs 0.25; 3.6 [2.6-4.6]), and lacrosse (0.83 vs 0.06; 12.9 [10.1-15.8]). Impact mechanism distributions were similar within sports between boys and girls. In soccer, head to ball represented 78% of impacts, whereas at least 88% in basketball were player-to-player contact. Conclusion: Across sports for boys and girls, soccer had the highest impact rate. Male high school soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams had significantly higher head impact rates than did female teams of the same sport. For girls, basketball had a higher head impact rate than did lacrosse and field hockey, and for boys, basketball had a similar impact rate to lacrosse, a collision sport. Sport differences in the distribution of impact mechanisms create sport-specific targets for reducing head impact exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Huber
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Declan A Patton
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Catherine C McDonald
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Divya Jain
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katherine Simms
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Valerie A Lallo
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Biomedical Engineering Department, Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Susan S Margulies
- Walter H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christina L Master
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristy B Arbogast
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Saunders TD, Le RK, Breedlove KM, Bradney DA, Bowman TG. Sex differences in mechanisms of head impacts in collegiate soccer athletes. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2020; 74:14-20. [PMID: 32097766 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been growing interest in head impacts related to sports participation due to potential long- and short-term consequences of head injuries. Our purpose was to compare head impact magnitude and frequency between men's and women's intercollegiate soccer players based on head impact mechanism. METHODS 28 collegiate soccer players (16 women: age = 19.94 (1.06) years, height = 163.75 (5.15) cm, mass = 61.21 (5.09) kg; 12 men: age = 20.25 (1.14) years, height = 180.34 (6.03) cm, mass = 74.09 (9.32) kg) wore xPatch (X2 Biosystems, Seattle, WA) head impact sensors. Each practice and game was video recorded in order to confirm head impacts. The independent variable was impact mechanism (head to head, head to body (other than head), head to ground, ball to head, goal to head, and combination). Sensors collected linear and rotational accelerations and frequency of head impacts per 1000 athlete exposures. FINDINGS Men were more likely to sustain head impacts than women (IRR = 1.74, CI95 = 1.59-1.92). The highest head impact incidence rate for men was head to body (IR = 611.68, CI95 = 553.11-670.25) while the highest impact incidence rate for women was ball to head (IR = 302.29, CI95 = 270.93-333.64). The interaction between sex and mechanism was significant for rotational accelerations (F4, 1720 = 3.757, P = .005, ω2 = 0.013) but not for linear accelerations (F4,1720 = 0.680, P = .606, ω2 < 0.001, 1 - β = 0.223). INTERPRETATION To reduce the frequency of head impacts in men, perhaps rules governing player to player contact should be more strictly enforced as these data confirm frequent player-to-head contact during soccer practices and games. Prevention efforts for women should be focused on limiting the amount of purposeful heading (planned contact between the head and ball) occurring during play especially since these impacts had higher magnitudes compared to men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel K Le
- Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, USA
| | - Katherine M Breedlove
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA; Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, USA
| | | | - Thomas G Bowman
- Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, USA.
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13
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Gonzalez L, Jones LE, Fakeh M, Shah N, Panchella JA, Shendell DG. Incidence reporting via online high school concussion surveillance by certified athletic trainers and school nurses, 2015-2018. Inj Epidemiol 2020; 7:1. [PMID: 32127051 PMCID: PMC6956499 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-019-0228-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an increasing concern over adolescent concussions in sports due to risks of long-term negative effects. This study analyzed data over three school years on reported concussion incidence rates by season, high school grade levels and gender, and reported symptoms by school nurses versus athletic trainers, from New Jersey student-athlete concussion data available from an online school-based surveillance system. METHODS School nurses and athletic trainers reported 300 concussions within five days from when each occurred over three school years, 2015-2018, in team sports and physical education in New Jersey high schools. Analysis was further conducted on symptoms and number of symptoms reported by school nurses versus school athletic trainers for each documented student-athlete concussion. Estimated concussion incidence rates were calculated using state agency verified school enrollment data. FINDINGS Concussions most commonly occurred during fall, followed by spring, then winter. Concussion incidence rates ranged from 6.3/1000 (4.99, 7.55) - 9.1/1000 (7.27, 10.98) students over the three school years of the study. Athletic trainers completed 86% of the reports while nurses completed 11% (position or title of 3%, or n = 7, were not disclosed); the values were similar when considering only fall pre-season and regular season sports (88, 10, 2%, respectively). On average, across the three school years, athletic trainers reported about 3.5 symptoms per report while nurses reported 2.7 (values in fall seasons only were 3.7 and 3.1, respectively.) CONCLUSIONS: Certified athletic trainers, compared to school nurses, more often completed concussion report forms and reported more symptoms per injured student, perhaps due partly to closer contact and immediate care provided after injury. Additionally, this study had a higher concussion incidence rate during fall sports seasons compared to winter and spring. Future research can further improve our understanding of concussions among adolescent student-athletes to better inform concussion identification, management and recovery protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gonzalez
- New Jersey Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor SPH Building, Suite 399 (office 384), Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | - Laura E Jones
- New Jersey Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor SPH Building, Suite 399 (office 384), Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA.,Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.,Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, One Riverfront Plaza, Suite 1020, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Maryanne Fakeh
- New Jersey Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor SPH Building, Suite 399 (office 384), Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA
| | - Nimit Shah
- New Jersey Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor SPH Building, Suite 399 (office 384), Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA.,Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Joseph A Panchella
- West Deptford High School Athletics Department, 1600 Old Crown Point Road, West Deptford, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Derek G Shendell
- New Jersey Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor SPH Building, Suite 399 (office 384), Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8020, USA. .,Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA. .,Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 170 Freylinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA. .,Brain Injury Alliance of NJ-Concussion in Youth Sports Committee, 825 Georges Road, North Brunswick, NJ, 08902, USA.
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14
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Houck ZM, Asken BM, Bauer RM, Caccese JB, Buckley TA, McCrea MA, McAllister TW, Broglio SP, Clugston JR. Academic aptitude mediates the relationship between socioeconomic status and race in predicting ImPACT scores in college athletes. Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 34:561-579. [PMID: 31549576 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2019.1666923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the influences of sociodemographic factors, estimated head impact exposure, and academic aptitude on ImPACT scores in college athletes.Methods: Data were reported on 18,886 participants (58% male) from the NCAA/DoD CARE Consortium. Race, SES, concussion history, estimated repetitive head impact exposure (eRHIE), and academic aptitude (SAT or ACT score) were our predictors of interest. Cognition was measured using ImPACT composite scores. We evaluated the mediating effects of academic aptitude on sociodemographic predictors and eRHIE on ImPACT scores. We then evaluated a football-only subsample and added age of first exposure to football (AFE) to the model. Males, females, and football players were analyzed separately using structural equation modeling.Results: Academic aptitude was associated with Black/African American race, SES, and each of the ImPACT composite scores. There were significant indirect effects of Black/African American race and SES on all ImPACT composite scores. Academic aptitude fully mediated SES effects and either fully or partially mediated race effects. Contrary to expectation, greater concussion history and eRHIE predicted better ImPACT scores.Conclusions: Academic aptitude, a stable indicator of premorbid cognitive function, consistently and most strongly predicted baseline ImPACT scores in collegiate student-athletes. Concussion and eRHIE history demonstrated a small positive, but non-significant, relationship with cognitive scores at the time of college athletic participation. This study suggests that attempts to characterize cognitive ability across the lifespan must consider premorbid functioning and sociodemographic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Houck
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Breton M Asken
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Russell M Bauer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Thomas A Buckley
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
| | - Thomas W McAllister
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James R Clugston
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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