High-magnitude headers are not associated with structural and functional brain changes in active high-level football (soccer) players
Our findings may indicate no cumulative effect of heading during the observation period. As these results contrast with cross-sectional findings, more longitudinal, prospective studies with a greater sample size are urgently needed to understand potential heading effects.
Authors
- Christian J. Thaler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7102-9316)
- Nina Feddermann‐Demont (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9632-0601)
- Goetz H. Welsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0757-9233)
- Jens Fiehler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8533-7478)
- Rebecca Reeschke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-4419)
- Carsten Schuenemann
- Franziska Katharina Mund
- Lukas Meyer
- Claus Reinsberger
Institutions
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Paderborn University (DE)
- German Society of Sport Science (DE)
- University Hospital of Zurich (CH)
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
- Boston Sports & Shoulder Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
- Published
- 2025-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002636
- Primary Topic
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universität Regensburg
- Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft
- Universität Paderborn