Citation

Filben TM, Pritchard NS, Hanes-Romano KE, Miller LE, Miles CM, Urban JE, Stitzel JD. J. Biomech. 2021; 126: e110619.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110619

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although most head impacts in soccer are headers, limited knowledge exists about how header magnitude varies by on-field scenario. This study aimed to compare head kinematics during on-field headers by play state (i.e., corner kick, goal kick, free kick, throw-in, drill, or live ball), intent (i.e., pass, shot, or clearance), and outcome (i.e., successful or unsuccessful). Fifteen female collegiate soccer players were instrumented with mouthpiece-based head impact sensors during 72 practices and 24 games. A total of 336 headers were verified and contextualized via film review. Play state was associated with peak linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, and rotational velocity (all p < .001) while outcome was associated with peak linear acceleration (p < .010). Header intent was not significantly associated with any kinematic metric. Headers during corner kicks (22.9 g, 2189.3 rad/s(2), 9.87 rad/s), goal kicks (24.3 g, 2658.9 rad/s(2), 10.1 rad/s), free kicks (18.0 g, 1843.3 rad/s(2), 8.43 rad/s), and live balls (18.8 g, 1769.7 rad/s(2), 8.09 rad/s) each had significantly greater mean peak linear acceleration (all p < .050), rotational acceleration (all p < .001), and rotational velocity (all p < .001) than headers during drills (13.0 g, 982.4 rad/s(2), 5.28 rad/s). Headers during goal kicks also had a significantly greater mean rotational acceleration compared to headers during live ball scenarios (p < .050). Successful headers (18.3 g) had a greater mean peak linear acceleration compared to unsuccessful headers (13.8 g; p < .010).

RESULTS may help inform efforts to reduce head impact exposure in soccer.

Language: en

Keywords

Head impact exposure; Headers; Mouthpiece; Repetitive head impacts