TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Immediate effects of an acute bout of repeated soccer heading on cognitive performance
JO  - Science and medicine in football
A1  - Ashton, Jake
A1  - Coyles, Ginny
A1  - Malone, James J.
A1  - Roberts, James W.
SP  - 181
EP  - 187
VL  - 5
IS  - 3
N2  - PURPOSE: There isgrowing concern surrounding the harmful effects of soccer heading on cognitive function. The present study aims to examine the immediate effects of heading.<br><br>METHODS: 30 recreational male soccer players were divided into three groups that undertook 20 consecutive headers with a soft (8.8 psi), hard (16.2 psi), or no (control) ball. A battery of neuropsychological tests was completed before and after heading: King-Devick, trail-making (TM) (A, B), digit span (DS) and spatial span (SS) (forward, backward).<br><br>RESULTS: Significant increase in the time (M = 4.44 s) and errors (M = 1.45) for the King-Devick test within the hard and soft groups, although there was no significant difference for TM-A and TM-B. Significant decline for SS forward within the hard and soft groups (M= -16%), although the declines for SS backward (M = -16%), DS forward (M= -23%) and DS backward (M = -25%) were present only for the hard group (ps <.05).<br><br>DISCUSSION: While outside of regular match-play, this study showed that heading negatively influenced one indicator of a suspected concussion (King-Devick), as well as working memory (DS, SS) that is essential for daily life. These findings contribute to the growing debate surrounding heading safety.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2473-3938
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1846769
ID  - ref1
ER  -