Sex differences in head acceleration during heading while wearing soccer headgear.
BACKGROUND
Researchers have indicated that female soccer players may be at greater risk of concussion compared with their male counterparts. Soccer headgear is marketed for reducing head acceleration and risk of concussion.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of sex and soccer headgear on head impact kinematics and dynamic stabilization during soccer heading.


METHODS
Cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Forty-four college-aged soccer players (29 women, 15 men).


METHODS
Using a head impact model, participants performed 4 soccer headers under 3 headgear conditions (control, Head Blast Soccer Band, and Full90 Select Performance Headguard).


METHODS
Dependent variables assessed before soccer heading were head-neck anthropometrics and isometric neck muscle strength, and those assessed during soccer headers were resultant linear head acceleration, Head Injury Criteria (HIC(36)), and superficial neck muscle electromyography. Statistical analyses included multivariate and univariate analyses of variance with repeated measures, independent-samples t tests, appropriate follow-up analyses of variance and post hoc t tests, and Pearson product moment correlations (alpha = .05).


RESULTS
Head acceleration in women was 32% and 44% greater than in men when wearing the Head Blast (21.5 g versus 16.3 g) and Full90 Select (21.8 g versus 15.2 g), respectively (P < .05). Compared with men, women exhibited 10% greater head accelerations (20.2 g versus 18.2 g) during the control condition (P = .164).


CONCLUSIONS
Female soccer players exhibited greater head accelerations than their male counterparts when wearing headgear. Our results are important clinically because they indicate that soccer headgear may not be an appropriate head injury prevention tool for all athletes.
Tierney
Ryan T
RT
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. rtierney@temple.edu
Higgins
Michael
M
Caswell
Shane V
SV
Brady
Jessica
J
McHardy
Krista
K
Driban
Jeffrey B
JB
Darvish
Kurosh
K
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*