Frequent "heading" in soccer can lead to brain injury and cognitive impairment

30 Nov 2011 Duncan Ferguson, Elite Minds

Two studies that have used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and cognitive tests have shown that repeatedly heading a soccer ball increases the risk for brain injury and cognitive impairment. 

One study took 38 amateur players (average age: 30.8) who had played soccer since childhood. They were asked to recall the number of times that they'd headed a ball in the past year. Players were then ranked basis their header frequency. Comparing the brain images of the more frequent headers against the infrequent headers of the ball, the researchers found that the "frequent headers"  brain images showed brain injury similar to that found in patients who’d suffered concussions and/or mild traumatic brain injury. 

In amateur play it is not uncommon for soccer balls to travel at speeds of up to 54 kph, in professional play the speeds more than double. 

"Heading a soccer ball is not an impact of a magnitude that will lacerate nerve fibers in the brain, but repetitive heading may set off a cascade of responses that can lead to degeneration of brain cells." Dr. Lipton – lead author of one of the studies and director of Einstein’s Gruss Magnetic Research Centre at Montefiore.

How many headers are too many? What is the threshold that leads to detectable head injury? 

These were two of the questions that researchers sought answers to. The research suggests that the threshold level was approximately 1,000 to 1,500 times a year – for players who headed the ball more than 1,500 times per year the researchers observed significant brain injury. While 1,000 to 1,500 headers per year is a lot for an occasional player, for a regular / professional player this level of frequency is easily reached. 

The damage caused to the brain could lead to decreased player capability. 

A related study took these same 38 players and tested their cognitive abilities.  Relative to their peers the players with the highest heading frequency per year were the worst performers in tests on verbal memory and psychomotor speed – so it was negatively impacting on their mind-body coordination skills. 

Dr. Lipton said "These two studies present compelling evidence that brain injury and cognitive impairment can result from heading a soccer ball with high frequency," "These are findings that should be taken into consideration in planning future research to develop approaches to protect soccer players."

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