Trying to Stay aHEAD of the Curve: The Implications of Repetitive Head Impacts in Sport on Long-Term Neurological Outcomes – Especially in the Sport of Soccer

Presentation Abstract:

The prevalence of concussion in soccer is well-documented. Recently an increased focus on repetitive head impacts (RHI) in the sport of soccer has gained momentum by the sports medicine community worldwide. Soccer is unique in that RHI occur as part of the tactical and technical portion of the game, whereby the use of the head to move the ball is allowed. Purposeful heading in soccer is a learned skill that needs to be practiced and refined in order to limit potential damage to the player. The evidence thus far is mixed regarding the short-term effects of RHI in soccer from heading, however the long-term effects remain elusive. The primary aim of this presentation is to discuss RHI in soccer, examine measurement of RHI in the sport, and bring to light ongoing concerns over the long-term implications for players and the sport moving into the future.

Speaker:

Thomas W. Kaminski, PhD, ATC is currently Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Research Laboratory at the University of Delaware. Kaminski has the distinct honor of holding fellowship status in the National Academy of Kinesiology, American College of Sports Medicine, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Research Consortium of the Society of Health and Physical Educators’ (SHAPE America). He is a member of the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) prestigious 49’ Club (Hall of Fame), and was selected as the National Athletic Trainers Association Education Council Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award, June 2010; National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, June 2014; and most recently National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Research and Education Foundation 2016 NATA Foundation Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research. He is a co-founder of the International Ankle Consortium. In addition to his research interest with ankle instability, Kaminski is a leading expert on issues related to purposeful heading in soccer and maintains a database established in 1998 examining purposeful headers in interscholastic and intercollegiate soccer during this time. He was a site investigator on the landmark NCAA/DoD CARE Consortium project examining the natural history of concussion in intercollegiate sports at the University of Delaware. Kaminski has also partnered with the United States Soccer Federation and the United Soccer Coaches to insure that youth soccer participants are safe and he has created the on-line educational and diploma course titled “Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer” for youth soccer coaches to teach purposeful heading appropriately.

In person, or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 969 0014 4474 | Passcode: 549592)