The risk of brain injury in soccer
Sep 20, 2018 4:47:48 PMThere has been a lot of talk in recent years about the dangers of football--and the growing concerns surrounding brain injuries from the sport. However, a recent study indicates that the world's most popular sport--soccer--actually has the potential to lead to long-term brain damage as well.
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine conducted a study on the impact of heading--a soccer technique in which a player jumps into the air and intercepts a ball--usually traveling at high speed--with their head. Because soccer players are not permitted to use their hands, the head is the primary way for a player to control a ball in mid-air. The study shows that over time, this technique can have neurological consequences.