Study Finds Repeated “Headers” In Soccer Games May Cause Brain Injuries
In soccer, players may not use their hands or arms to control the ball. Any other part of the body is fair game – including the head. Now, however, parents of soccer players might want to think twice before encouraging kids to try a “header” and hit the ball with their heads. A new study reveals that repeated blows to the head from a soccer ball “header” can cause serious, lifelong brain injuries.
The study examined the brains of 32 adult amateur soccer players, some of whom “headed” the soccer ball over 1,000 times each season. The results showed that the more times players hit the ball with their heads, the more damage they showed to areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and high-level visual functions – skills needed to do basic everyday tasks like drive a car or work with tools, as well as skills required to succeed in school and in challenging intellectual careers.
The researchers compared the damage found in the soccer players' brain scans to scans of people who suffered traumatic brain injuries in auto accidents. They found several similarities between the two. While more research is required to understand how these injuries affect a person over an entire lifespan, researchers warn that children should especially be encouraged to avoid “headers.” Damage to a growing brain may be permanent.
Sports accidents, slip and falls, auto accidents, and many other situations can cause permanent traumatic brain injuries that can alter the course of a young person's life. If you or someone you love has suffered a serious head injury, the experienced New York brain injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help. For a free consultation, call us today at (212) 222-4336.
