HEADBANDS PROVIDE MINIMAL PROTECTION FOR SOCCER PLAYERS

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HEADBANDS PROVIDE MINIMAL PROTECTION FOR SOCCER PLAYERS
02 January 2003 - Washington University in St Louis

Headbands intended to protect soccer players from head injuries are effective only at high speeds, according to research at Washington University in St. Louis. The team found that all four brands of commercial headbands eased the impact of a soccer ball at the highest speeds and pressures tested, but failed to reduce the force at slower speeds.

“These early findings imply that soccer headgear is not very protective during run-of-the-mill impacts in soccer, but may protect against more severe collisions, such as hitting a goalpost or another player’s head,” says Rosanne S. Naunheim, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the School of Medicine. “Effectively, these headbands protect players against the same things a helmet would protect them from, but do not provide specific protection against hitting a soccer ball.”

About 200 million people worldwide play soccer, yet there is little research on the neurological dangers of hitting a soccer ball with the head, a common practice called
“heading.”

“It’s going to take long-term studies to find out precisely how dangerous it is to hit a soccer ball with your head,” says Naunheim.

Naunheim and a team of engineers at Washington University are exploring the physical properties and neurological repercussions of soccer heading. Meanwhile, they tested four brands of headbands currently available using a magnesium head-simulator. Soccer balls were projected from 10 feet away at 20, 26 and 34 mph, three common speeds during soccer. The team also tested two levels of ball inflation to measure the effect of ball pressure.

All four headbands significantly changed the impact of the ball when it was fully inflated and projected at the highest speed. However, at all other speeds, none of the headgear provided significant protection against impact, regardless of inflation.

“At the highest speeds there’s a possible protective effect, so there might be an even greater effect at faster speeds,” says Naunheim.

Since soccer balls can reach velocities of 85 mph in professional matches, the team plans to test the headbands under more forceful conditions.

http://www.wustl.edu

About: Washington University in St Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a medium-sized, independent research university dedicated to challenging its faculty and students alike to seek new knowledge and greater understanding of an ever-changing, multicultural world. The university is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research and draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 90 other nations. With 6,509 undergraduates and 5,579 graduate and professional students, as well as 1,384 part-time students, Washington University offers more than 90 programs and nearly 1,500 courses in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary majors.

Founded in 1853 by St. Louisans, Washington University is highly regarded for its commitment to excellence in learning. Its programs, administration, facilities, resources, and activities combine to further its mission of teaching, research, and service to society.

Set amid a thriving metropolitan region of 2.6 million residents, the University benefits from the vast array of social, cultural, and recreational opportunities offered by the St. Louis area. Bordered on the east by St. Louis' famed Forest Park and on the north, west, and south by well-established suburbs, the 169-acre Hilltop Campus features predominantly Collegiate Gothic architecture, including a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

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