Brain Injury Insider Episode 150: The Hidden Dangers of Heading a Soccer Ball

Today on The Brain Injury Insider, I want to look at a new report that should get the attention of every soccer parent, coach, athletic trainer, and athlete.Hidden Dangers of Heading a Soccer BallA new study published in JAMA Neurology, entitled “Amateur Soccer Heading and Acute Elevations in Blood Based p-217 add S100b”, that looked at what happens within the brain after soccer players head the ball. The study found that heading a soccer ball just once is enough to temporarily raise blood levels of proteins associated with brain cell damage.Researchers studied over 300 elite amateur male soccer players in the Netherlands. They took blood samples before matches, right after matches, and again 24 to 48 hours later. They also used cameras to track how often players headed the ball and estimate the force of those headers.What they found was concerning.Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_WrSnAxWq8Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.De Caro & Kaplen, LLP228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017Toll Free: (866) 272-4652e: [email protected]