Poster Session
Exploring the Effects of a Neck Strengthening Program on Purposeful Soccer Heading Biomechanics
Location
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
32
Start Date
4-10-2019 12:00 PM
End Date
4-10-2019 1:15 PM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Mathematics
Abstract
Context: Neck strengthening has been proposed as an important factor in concussion predisposition. However, the effect of neck strengthening programs on neurocognition after purposeful heading has not been identified. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine if a 6-week strengthening program increases soccer athletes’ neck strength and causes changes in heading biomechanics outcomes after a bout of repetitive purposeful soccer heading. Methods: Twenty collegiate soccer athletes (8 males, 12 females, age=20.15±1.35 years, height=171.67±9.01, mass=70.56±11.03) volunteered to participate. Time (pre and post) and group (experimental and control) served as the independent variables. Strength measurements in 7 directions (anterior, right anterolateral, left anterolateral, right rotation, left rotation, right posterolateral, left posterolateral) and heading biomechanics from xPatch from X2 Biosystems (Linear acceleration (PLA), Rotational acceleration (PRA), Duration, and Gadd Severity Index (GSI)) served as the dependent variables. Each athlete completed a baseline measure of neck strength and wore a xPatch to gather heading biomechanics data after heading 10 soccer balls. We used a Microfet hand-held dynamometer to measure the participants’ neck strength. The participants completed three trails in each direction and we calculated the average. The experimental group completed specific neck strengthening exercises twice a week for 6 weeks using a Shingo Imara. The neck exercises consisted of 2 sets of 4 neck movements until fatigue. The control group did not perform neck strengthening exercises. After six weeks, the athletes completed the same neck strength testing protocol and the xPatch collected the heading biomechanics data. We analyzed the data using 2x2 mixed model ANOVAs for each of the dependent variables. Results:There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PLA at 25 mph(F1,11 = 0.661, P = .434 , η2 = .057, 1-β=.115). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PLA at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.982, P = .343 , η2 = .082, 1-β=.148).There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PRA at 25 mph (F1,11 = 0.003, P = .957 , η2 = .0, 1-β=.050). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PRA at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.002, P = .965 , η2 = .0, 1-β=.050). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for DURATION at 25 mph(F1,11 = 0.414, P = .533 , η2 = .036, 1-β=.091). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for DURATION at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.078, P = .785 , η2 = .008, 1-β=.057). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for GSI at 25 mph(F1,11 = 1.030, P = .332 , η2 = .086, 1-β=.153). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for GSI at 40 mph(F1,10 = 0.547, P = .477 , η2 = .052, 1-β=.103). Conclusion: The data shows that the neck strengthening protocol did not affect heading biomechanics of the collegiate soccer athletes in this study. More research should be done to determine the role that neck strength plays in anticipated soccer heading.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Tom Bowman
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Exploring the Effects of a Neck Strengthening Program on Purposeful Soccer Heading Biomechanics
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Context: Neck strengthening has been proposed as an important factor in concussion predisposition. However, the effect of neck strengthening programs on neurocognition after purposeful heading has not been identified. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine if a 6-week strengthening program increases soccer athletes’ neck strength and causes changes in heading biomechanics outcomes after a bout of repetitive purposeful soccer heading. Methods: Twenty collegiate soccer athletes (8 males, 12 females, age=20.15±1.35 years, height=171.67±9.01, mass=70.56±11.03) volunteered to participate. Time (pre and post) and group (experimental and control) served as the independent variables. Strength measurements in 7 directions (anterior, right anterolateral, left anterolateral, right rotation, left rotation, right posterolateral, left posterolateral) and heading biomechanics from xPatch from X2 Biosystems (Linear acceleration (PLA), Rotational acceleration (PRA), Duration, and Gadd Severity Index (GSI)) served as the dependent variables. Each athlete completed a baseline measure of neck strength and wore a xPatch to gather heading biomechanics data after heading 10 soccer balls. We used a Microfet hand-held dynamometer to measure the participants’ neck strength. The participants completed three trails in each direction and we calculated the average. The experimental group completed specific neck strengthening exercises twice a week for 6 weeks using a Shingo Imara. The neck exercises consisted of 2 sets of 4 neck movements until fatigue. The control group did not perform neck strengthening exercises. After six weeks, the athletes completed the same neck strength testing protocol and the xPatch collected the heading biomechanics data. We analyzed the data using 2x2 mixed model ANOVAs for each of the dependent variables. Results:There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PLA at 25 mph(F1,11 = 0.661, P = .434 , η2 = .057, 1-β=.115). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PLA at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.982, P = .343 , η2 = .082, 1-β=.148).There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PRA at 25 mph (F1,11 = 0.003, P = .957 , η2 = .0, 1-β=.050). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for PRA at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.002, P = .965 , η2 = .0, 1-β=.050). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for DURATION at 25 mph(F1,11 = 0.414, P = .533 , η2 = .036, 1-β=.091). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for DURATION at 40 mph(F1,11 = 0.078, P = .785 , η2 = .008, 1-β=.057). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for GSI at 25 mph(F1,11 = 1.030, P = .332 , η2 = .086, 1-β=.153). There was no interaction present between Group and Time for GSI at 40 mph(F1,10 = 0.547, P = .477 , η2 = .052, 1-β=.103). Conclusion: The data shows that the neck strengthening protocol did not affect heading biomechanics of the collegiate soccer athletes in this study. More research should be done to determine the role that neck strength plays in anticipated soccer heading.