Heart

In the game of soccer, heading the ball is one of the skills that is quite complicated but effective on the field. Sometimes, this one technique can be the savior of a match for a particular team. So, it's no wonder that soccer players often head the ball as a defense or attack technique. However, did you know that behind the effectiveness of heading the ball there is a danger that lurks soccer players? The danger in question is not only physical, such as injury or trauma to the head, you know. Heading the ball turned out to have a considerable impact on brain function. You often head the ball? Read on for the explanation below to find out the dangers of heading the ball in your brain.

The danger of heading the ball

For a long time, research conducted on the side effects of heading the ball has only been limited to physical effects such as concussions or neck injuries. However, recently many researchers have begun to study the impact of this technique on the workings and activities of the human brain. The results of these studies were surprising. Check out some of the following conclusions.

Memory loss

A study conducted by the University of Stirling in Scotland looked at the effect of heading the ball on memory. In the study, study participants were asked to head the ball 20 times. After the session ended, the participants then took a test to test their memory. As a result, the participants' memory was reduced by 41 to 67 percent. This impact was felt immediately after the training session to head the ball ended. Fortunately the participants' memories returned to normal after 24 hours.

Impaired brain function

Another study conducted by Harvard Medical School revealed that there is a significant difference between the brains of soccer players who often head the ball and the brains of swimmers. Unlike football, swimming is usually less prone to head impacts or trauma. A difference highlighted by the study in the Journal of the American Medical Association is disruption or abnormality of the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes in the brains of football players.

These disturbed parts of the brain are responsible for controlling alertness or attention, managing visual processes, and complex thinking abilities. The impact that may be felt immediately is a disturbance in behavior patterns, changes in mood or mood such as depression and anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.

Who is most vulnerable to the danger of heading the ball?

Although the dangers of heading the ball have been voiced quite often by health professionals, soccer athletes or those who like to play soccer do not seem to be affected by the warning. This is because the impact it makes on your day-to-day brain function is so subtle that it is difficult to tell whether a particular disturbance you are experiencing is the result of heading the ball or due to something else, such as a collision with another player. Concussion or trauma to the head that has been experienced is also at risk of causing cognitive dysfunction. Thus, people who have had a concussion are also more susceptible to the dangers of heading the ball.

Children and adolescents are also more susceptible to impaired brain function due to heading the ball. In children and adolescents under the age of 14 whose bodies are still developing, the brain is not completely enveloped by myelin. Myelin sheath functions to protect nerves and transmit signals in the brain. Thus, the child's brain is more sensitive to shocks or collisions.

In addition, children over the age of 5 will grow up to 90% of the adult head. Meanwhile, their necks weren't strong enough to support such a large head. When children head the ball, the pressure they receive becomes much stronger so that the impact on the brain is also greater.

Can I head the ball while playing soccer?

Children under the age of 14 should avoid training or the practice of heading the ball with a ball of skin. If a child or teenager wants to practice good heading technique, it is best to do it with a plastic ball first until their head and brain are fully developed.

The danger of heading the ball for the adult brain still needs further investigation. The reason is, it is not yet known the dangers of heading the ball that will continue to haunt you in the long run. If you are worried, you should reduce the frequency of heading the ball while practicing or playing soccer. You are also advised to master the proper and safe technique of heading the ball, for example by clenching your jaw and teeth tightly before the head touches the ball. Thus, you can minimize the risks that may be caused to the head and brain.