Exploring the Effects of a Neck Strengthening Program on Purposeful Soccer Heading Biomechanics and Neurocognition.
Katelyn M Waring, Edward R Smith, Gary P Austin and 1 others
PMID 36237655WHAT IT FOUND
Six weeks of neck strengthening improved some neck strength in college soccer players but did not change head impact forces during heading.
Visual memory scores dropped in the control group, while the training group maintained theirs. This suggests strength gains alone do not mitigate impact mechanics.
Key findings
01The neck strengthening program significantly improved anterior and anterolateral neck strength, but not rotational or posterolateral strength.
02There were no significant differences between the groups in peak linear acceleration, peak rotational acceleration, impact duration, or Gadd Severity Index during soccer heading.
03Visual memory scores decreased significantly in the control group from pretest to posttest, while the strengthening group showed no such decrease.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (20 participants), limiting the power to detect differences. The neck strengthening protocol did not improve rotational or posterolateral strength, which may be relevant for different types of impacts. Head impacts were anticipated by participants, which may not reflect the mechanics of unexpected collisions in game situations. Neck muscle activation timing during heading was not measured, so the relationship between strength and impact mitigation remains unclear. The study was conducted over six weeks, which may not capture long-term effects or adaptations.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that neck strengthening reduces head impact forces or prevents concussion based on this study. While neck strength improved, there was no change in head impact biomechanics, and the cognitive findings were limited to visual memory maintenance in a small sample.