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Study cites factors for high-magnitude head impact exposure in youth football
Results from this study indicated youth football players who experienced higher levels of head impact exposure were more likely to be “back” players who were frequently positioned in the open field.
Helmets with accelerometer arrays were given to 45 football players who were between 9 years and 12 years old to wear during all games and practices to record any head impact accelerations. Practices and games were video recorded to verify high-magnitude head impacts, to identify specific impact characteristics and to determine the amount of time was spent in each activity. Impacts were defined by the position played by each athlete, part of the field where the impact occurred, whether impact occurred during practice or game, and the cause of the impact.
Researchers found 571 high-magnitude head impact accelerations that exceeded 40 g out of the total 7,590 impacts recorded. Investigators noted that during both games and practices, high-magnitude impacts occurred more often in the open field. A greater proportion of high-magnitude head impact was seen in “back” players compared with those in other positions. The practice sessions for both teams were similarly structured with regard to time spent for each drill; however, between the teams, the impact rates were different for each drill. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure s : The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.