However, for about twenty years now, it has been feared that excessively violent and repeated contact between the head and the ball could cause damage to the central nervous system (CNS); among these, the most unfortunate eventuality would be necrosis due to trauma by acceleration or deceleration - similar to what happens in boxing.
In this short article we will take stock of the situation on the basis of current knowledge, collecting the most famous testimonies and the most indicative clinical (or legal) cases.
most popular in the world, football is played by people of all ages. This team sport would be practiced by 265 million people between professional and amateur athletes.
Although the main technical skill in football is footwork, the header remains a must in aerial ball management.
This mode, called "heading" in English, is based on intentionally hitting the ball with the forehead. What makes the header difficult is:
- Ballistic calculation of the trajectory of the incoming ball;
- Estimation of the point of contact with the head based on rebound ballistics;
- Take advantage of the kinetic force of the ball, maintaining its speed or even increasing it by giving additional energy to the clash.
A balloon that arrives violently, too swollen or too deflated, poor abdominal, shoulder, high back but above all cervical, and an incorrect collision point (for example in the temporal rather than frontal region), can be decidedly problematic with respect to to a "textbook" header.
Therefore, continuing with the reading, the kind users do not forget that all this is of primary importance in the evaluation of the health consequences of the header.
Note: we are obviously ignoring the accidental brawls between the players' heads; this is because - despite the often high gravity - these are involuntary accidents, which have nothing to do with the impact between the head and the ball.
, damage to the cervical region (muscle, joint, nerve etc.), blunt trauma to the eyes, ears (including the inner ear), nose, jaw and mouth are to be considered.
On the other hand, while the problems of the neck, eyes, ears, nose, jaw and mouth are constituted by basically acute traumas, those of the brain can cause problems not only immediately, but also in the chronic, after repeated minor injuries - even, with the passing of some football seasons.
Referring to the brain, the possible acute traumas and repeated microtraumas in chronic head stroke include various circumstances which we will discuss below.
Concussion or concussion
It occurs when your head is hit very sharply.
It is a type of traumatic brain injury.
In football, about 22% of all injuries are so-called concussions.
Following a concussion, it is possible to lose consciousness but also to remain awake. Other possible symptoms include:
- Headache;
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss;
- Confusion;
- Blurred vision;
- Dizziness;
- Problems with balance
- Nausea;
- Sensitivity to light or noise.
Subconcussive injuries
They also occur when a person's head is hit with force but, unlike concussion, it is not severe enough to cause noticeable symptoms.
However, they do cause some brain damage. Over time, repeated subconcussive injuries (or microtrauma of which copra) can build up and cause more serious damage.
This type of repetitive head injury is associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The risk of CTE is greater when someone has suffered subconcussive brain injury and concussion for many years.
However, CTE is not yet fully understood by doctors. Many factors, such as genetics and diet in the chronic, can influence how the head injury would lead to CTE.
Symptoms also appear to vary from person to person. The (possible) initial clinical signs and symptoms of CTE would include:
- Poor self-control;
- Impulsive behavior;
- Memory problems
- Reduced attention;
- Difficulty planning and carrying out normally executable tasks (executive dysfunction).
In addition to soccer, CTE has been seen in athletes who play other contact sports such as wrestling, soccer, and ice hockey. More specific research is needed to understand how football is related to CTE.
they are still developing. Neck musculature, typically weaker than that of an adult, is also a predisposing factor for head injury in football.
correct for the header. Learning the right way from the start can protect the head from possible future injuries. This mainly involves stabilizing the neck and torso, so as to reduce the severity of the acceleration-deceleration trauma;
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