The effect of a neuromuscular neck exercise program on head impact magnitude during heading: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: Football is the only sport where the head is deliberately used to strike a ball. While heading has always been an integral part of football, there is growing research and public concern that retired footballers have an increased risk for neurodegenerative disease due to changes to brain tissue from repeated ball-head impacts. Any impact to the head has the potential to cause a transmission of force to the brain. Whether this results in detrimental stress and strain to brain tissue is likely related to head impact magnitude.