Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading
Introduction: There is growing concern around the effects of concussion and sub-concussive impacts in sport. Routine game-play in soccer involves intentional and repeated head impacts through ball heading. Although heading is frequently cited as a risk to brain health, little data exist regarding th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-11-01
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| Series: | EBioMedicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235239641630490X |
| _version_ | 1811233347587801088 |
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| author | Thomas G. Di Virgilio Angus Hunter, PhD Lindsay Wilson, PhD William Stewart, MD Stuart Goodall, PhD Glyn Howatson, PhD David I. Donaldson, PhD Magdalena Ietswaart, PhD |
| author_facet | Thomas G. Di Virgilio Angus Hunter, PhD Lindsay Wilson, PhD William Stewart, MD Stuart Goodall, PhD Glyn Howatson, PhD David I. Donaldson, PhD Magdalena Ietswaart, PhD |
| author_sort | Thomas G. Di Virgilio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: There is growing concern around the effects of concussion and sub-concussive impacts in sport. Routine game-play in soccer involves intentional and repeated head impacts through ball heading. Although heading is frequently cited as a risk to brain health, little data exist regarding the consequences of this activity. This study aims to assess the immediate outcomes of routine football heading using direct and sensitive measures of brain function.
Methods: Nineteen amateur football players (5 females; age 22 ± 3 y) headed machine-projected soccer balls at standardized speeds, modelling routine soccer practice. The primary outcome measure of corticomotor inhibition measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation, was assessed prior to heading and repeated immediately, 24 h, 48 h and 2 weeks post-heading. Secondary outcome measures were cortical excitability, postural control, and cognitive function.
Results: Immediately following heading an increase in corticomotor inhibition was detected; further to these electrophysiological alterations, measurable reduction memory function were also found. These acute changes appear transient, with values normalizing 24 h post-heading.
Discussion: Sub-concussive head impacts routine in soccer heading are associated with immediate, measurable electrophysiological and cognitive impairments. Although these changes in brain function were transient, these effects may signal direct consequences of routine soccer heading on (long-term) brain health which requires further study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:19:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9080b8e2f249426091b0c370460f4401 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-3964 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:19:18Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EBioMedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-9080b8e2f249426091b0c370460f44012022-12-22T03:35:25ZengElsevierEBioMedicine2352-39642016-11-0113C667110.1016/j.ebiom.2016.10.029Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer HeadingThomas G. Di Virgilio0Angus Hunter, PhD1Lindsay Wilson, PhD2William Stewart, MD3Stuart Goodall, PhD4Glyn Howatson, PhD5David I. Donaldson, PhD6Magdalena Ietswaart, PhD7Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, University of Stirling, Scotland, UKPhysiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, University of Stirling, Scotland, UKPsychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, UKDepartment of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow and Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UKFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKPsychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, UKPsychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, UKIntroduction: There is growing concern around the effects of concussion and sub-concussive impacts in sport. Routine game-play in soccer involves intentional and repeated head impacts through ball heading. Although heading is frequently cited as a risk to brain health, little data exist regarding the consequences of this activity. This study aims to assess the immediate outcomes of routine football heading using direct and sensitive measures of brain function. Methods: Nineteen amateur football players (5 females; age 22 ± 3 y) headed machine-projected soccer balls at standardized speeds, modelling routine soccer practice. The primary outcome measure of corticomotor inhibition measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation, was assessed prior to heading and repeated immediately, 24 h, 48 h and 2 weeks post-heading. Secondary outcome measures were cortical excitability, postural control, and cognitive function. Results: Immediately following heading an increase in corticomotor inhibition was detected; further to these electrophysiological alterations, measurable reduction memory function were also found. These acute changes appear transient, with values normalizing 24 h post-heading. Discussion: Sub-concussive head impacts routine in soccer heading are associated with immediate, measurable electrophysiological and cognitive impairments. Although these changes in brain function were transient, these effects may signal direct consequences of routine soccer heading on (long-term) brain health which requires further study.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235239641630490XSports concussionTranscranial magnetic stimulationSub-concussionTraumatic brain injury |
| spellingShingle | Thomas G. Di Virgilio Angus Hunter, PhD Lindsay Wilson, PhD William Stewart, MD Stuart Goodall, PhD Glyn Howatson, PhD David I. Donaldson, PhD Magdalena Ietswaart, PhD Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading EBioMedicine Sports concussion Transcranial magnetic stimulation Sub-concussion Traumatic brain injury |
| title | Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading |
| title_full | Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading |
| title_fullStr | Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading |
| title_short | Evidence for Acute Electrophysiological and Cognitive Changes Following Routine Soccer Heading |
| title_sort | evidence for acute electrophysiological and cognitive changes following routine soccer heading |
| topic | Sports concussion Transcranial magnetic stimulation Sub-concussion Traumatic brain injury |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235239641630490X |
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