Can you get TBI from soccer?

In some cases where the ball travels at high speed, heading the soccer ball can cause concussion, which is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Concussion is diagnosed when symptoms—such as confusion, disorientation, amnesia, dizziness, headache, and others—accompany a blow to the head.

What sport has the highest rate of traumatic brain injury?

A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that horseback riding resulted in 11.7 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in recreational sports from 2001 to 2005, the highest of any athletic activity.

Do soccer players suffer from CTE?

The incidence and prevalence of football and soccer players at risk of CTE is not determined; yet, head injuries can result in an overt cognitive dementia. Further professional and public awareness about the risk of CTE is warranted.

Does hitting a soccer ball with your head cause brain damage?

Routine heading of a soccer ball can cause damage to brain structure and function, according to a new study from the United Kingdom that is the first to detect direct neurological changes by impacts too minor to cause a concussion.

Do helmets prevent brain injury?

Studies have shown that wearing a helmet reduces your risk of a serious brain injury and death because during a fall or collision, most of the impact energy is absorbed by the helmet, rather than your head and brain. But just as important as wearing a helmet is wearing the right helmet.

Does soccer have the most concussions?

More than half of the concussions occurred in football. In girls’ sports, though, soccer had the most concussions which in turn was the second-highest incidence rate across all sports (second to boys’ football).

How does soccer affect your brain?

The injury still causes some brain damage though. Over time, repeated subconcussive injuries can accumulate and result in more serious damage. This type of repetitive head trauma is associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

What evidence is there that soccer can cause neurological problems?

A Norwegian study found that 35% of 69 Division I soccer players had abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. This is more than twice the rate of abnormal EEG patterns in control subjects. Retired soccer players had several brain abnormalities including reduced cortical tissue and increased lateral ventricle size.

What to do if you get hit in the head with a soccer ball?

So if you took a small hit to the head and had any concussion symptoms, you should leave the activity right away. You should then have a doctor examine you to rule out a concussion. (We would consider it a concussion until proven otherwise.) A subconcussive blow is one rung below a mild concussion.

Do footballers get brain damage?

A leading study on football from Glasgow University, published in 2019, discovered that former football players are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurogenerative disease than age-matched members of the public; and were more likely to be prescribed dementia-related medication.

How do you prevent TBI in sports?

Everyone should wear properly fitting, sport-appropriate headgear and safety equipment when playing contact sports or biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, snowboarding, or skiing. You can’t prevent every concussion. But helmets, mouthguards, and other safety gear can reduce the risk of a brain injury.