I received a viewer question from Nahid:
“My son wants to play soccer at his middle school next year, and initially I had no problem with it. My neighbor then scared me by telling me about how all young soccer players wind up having neck injuries and concussions. Now I am really nervous about letting him play. Is there any way to make it safe?”
Thanks for your question Nahid.
First of all, let me preface my response with this statement: No sport is 100% safe. Virtually any sport your child wishes to participate in could result in injury. That being said, I would rather encourage kids to participate in sports and remain active, as this makes it more likely that they will develop good habits which will last a lifetime.
Until recently, soccer was thought of as a relatively benign sport, with less risk involved than football or hockey. However, in the past decade, physicians and sports physiologists have come to recognize the inherent risks in soccer- particularly those associated with ‘heading’ the ball. Heading is when a player uses the top of their forehead to slow down a ball, or to redirect it towards another player.
Multiple studies have shown that there is significant risk associated with heading, specifically relating to neck injuries and concussions. This risk has been well documented in studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Journal of Sports Medicine, and many others. Of course, concussions have become the subject of chatter here in Philadelphia, as two prominent Philadelphia Eagle players have recently sustained concussions.
Now I have two daughters, and I am hoping both of them will play soccer.
WHAT!?!?!
Well, as I stated- almost any sport has a potential for risk. Basically, I will instruct them not to ‘head’ the ball- there are alternative moves, such as slowing the ball down with your chest, letting it slide down the body and redirecting it with their feet. Additionally, being sure that your child is adequately warmed up, and has taken several minutes to stretch prior to a game or practice can do much to help prevent injury.
Several of my patients have children who play soccer, and have instructed the team coaches to not allow their kids to head. Again, I think it is more important that children remain active, and develop the confidence and skills they can only get by participating in a team sport. As parents, we just need to pay attention.
I hope this is helpful. Be well,
-Andy
