Jonathan Wilhoite Blog: Recent Study Shows Head Butting Soccer Balls May Affect Brain Performance

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Recent Study Shows Head Butting Soccer Balls May Affect Brain Performance

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BBC.co.uk says that it involved players who were tasked to head the ball for about twenty times. The researchers study found small but relevant changes in the brain performance after football players did the experiment.

To be exact, it was reported to reduce memory function within 24 hours and it lowered the brain’s performance 41% to 67%. One of the authors of the study said that it would be best to avoid the sport before exams and such.

The University of Stirling was the one who conducted the study and it was released in EBioMedicine.

Heading Footballs ‘Affects Memory’

Researchers said they had identified “small but significant changes in brain function” after players headed the ball 20 times. Memory performance was reduced by between 41% and 67% in the 24 hours after routine heading practice. Read more…

Sean Ingle from theguardian.com tackles the issue concerning the long-term effects of heading a ball.

England 1970 World Cup center, Jeff Astle, died as a result of head trauma. He suffered from early stage dementia which the coroner reports to be the result of heading footballs.

Study finds heading a football has immediate effect on the brain

A brain re-examination discovered that he had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This progressive brain disease can only be determined at death. It’s reported to be rampant in the brains of deceased American footballers, boxers and rugby players. Read more…

Rte.ie reports that Astle’s daughter encourages further investigation concerning the matter. Now, the study has found some significant results. The experiment involved 19 footballers and they headed a ball for 20 times. A machine specifically designed to simulate pace and power was used to fire the ball. The players were tested before and after the sessions. The frequencies of their test were after 24 hours, 48 hours and two weeks.

What’s really mind-boggling about the results is that their conditions stabilize after 24 hours. It hasn’t been established yet if the effects are temporary or long term.

Research Shows Heading Footballs Affects Brain

Astle’s daughter Dawn has been campaigning for more research into the matter and was told by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association in late 2014 that they were talking to FIFA. Read more…

It may be risky for children to be exposed to this sport but hopefully, further results would indicate a good outcome. In the meantime, it may be safe to exercise caution and awareness about the sport.

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