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Objective: The potential for risks associated with chronic soccer heading has led some soccer leagues to mandate the use of soccer headgear. Although manufacturers have designed and promoted these headbands to decrease the forces associated with heading a soccer ball, their efficacy has not been tested. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of 3 brands of soccer headgear: Headers, Headblast, and Protector, as compared with a non-headband condition.
Design and Setting: A force platform was mounted vertically with each headband attached with a length of hook-and-loop tape. A JUGS Soccer Machine projected balls at the platform and headband at 56.45 kph (35 mph).
Measurements: We measured vertical ground reaction force for 50 trials of each condition and calculated peak force, time to peak force, and impulse.
Results: We found a significant reduction in peak force of impact with all 3 headbands. The Protector headband also showed the greatest decrease in time to peak force and impulse, whereas the Headers headband showed a significant increase in impulse.
Conclusions: All 3 headbands were effective at reducing the peak impact force. The Protector headband appeared the most effective at reducing time to peak force and impulse within the design of this study. The clinical effectiveness of these products remains to be seen.
Key Words: soccer heading, impact force, head injury
Soccer is considered the world's most popular team sport with nearly 200 million participants.1 In the United States, the success of the USA National Teams in international competition has led the way for an increase in youth soccer popularity. Soccer participation has increased 20% among youth (12-17 years of age) from 1997 to 1999.2
During soccer play, one aspect of ball control and advancement is the intentional and direct use of the athlete's head. Over a career of 300 games, a soccer athlete sustains an estimated 2000 blows to the head from heading a soccer ball in game situations.3 The total number of headers taken during practice is likely to be much higher, although a specific number has not been reported. In recent years, some authors have criticized this technique for subjecting the soccer athlete to impact forces similar to those a boxer receives when struck in the head. Although the intents of repeated blows to the head...