Investigating Cognitive Performance Deficits in Male and Female Soccer Players after a 4-week Heading- Training Programme: A Controlled Study. Issue 2 (22nd August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jansen, Petra; Lehmann, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Brain impairment. Volume 19:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2017-08-22
• Subjects: soccer, -- heading, -- cognitive impairment, -- sex effect, -- headache, -- concussion, -- mild traumatic brain injury; Brain Diseases -- Congresses; Brain Diseases -- Periodicals; Brain -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1017/BrImp.2017.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1443-9646

Abstract

Abstract : This experimental study with a controlled pre-test and post-test group design investigated the possible effects of four sessions of heading training on cognitive performance. A total of 118 participants (mean age of 22.25 years) were assigned to one of the three following groups: a heading-training group, a passing-training group and a waiting control group. The participants completed a cognitive test battery of attention (D2-test), working memory (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task, PASAT-2) and visual spatial intelligence (Mental Rotation Test) tests before, immediately after the second training session and one week after the fourth training session. There were no between-group differences in cognitive performance after the second or the fourth heading training sessions. However, within the heading-training group, women complained more of headaches than men after the fourth training session. These results build on the results from the study of Rieder and Jansen (2011 ) that showed no neuropsychological consequences after one heading session, showing no cumulative effects of repeat heading.