Examining Neurocognitive Function in Previously Concussed Interscholastic Female Soccer Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neurology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Sport-related concussions, particularly in soccer, are a growing concern.
• Soccer heading involves repetitive subconcussive head impacts, raising questions about long-term effects.
• Understanding the impact of heading on previously concussed athletes is crucial for player safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neurocognitive performance and concussion-related symptoms in female soccer players with and without a history of concussion.
• To assess the potential impact of a competitive season involving purposeful heading on these athletes.

Main Methods:

• 210 female interscholastic soccer players were divided into control (never concussed) and experimental (previously concussed) groups.
• Neurocognitive performance was evaluated using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) before and after the season.
• Data on games played and headers were collected; statistical analyses included ANCOVA and t-tests.

Main Results:

• Both groups played a similar number of games and had comparable numbers of total headers and headers per game.
• No significant differences were found between the previously concussed and control groups in neurocognitive performance or concussion symptoms.
• The frequency of headers per game was low in both groups (1.4 in experimental vs. 1.3 in control).

Conclusions:

• Purposeful heading in soccer, even for previously concussed players, did not lead to measurable negative consequences on neuropsychological performance or symptoms within a single season.
• The low frequency of headers per game may contribute to these findings.
• Further longitudinal research is necessary to understand the cumulative effects of heading over an entire playing career.