Risk of Head Injuries in Soccer Told

Adolescent soccer players need better education about the symptoms of concussion and dangers of playing with head injuries, medical experts said Tuesday.

In a new report, the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, said that studies of the effects of “heading”--hitting the ball with the head--have been inconclusive and that additional research is needed.

But the risk of concussion in contact sports, including soccer is real, according to the report.

Studies on animals show that a subject who receives a concussion while the brain is still recovering from an earlier blow can suffer a loss of memory and cognitive function, said Dr. Albert Hergenroeder, chief of adolescent medicine and sports medicine at Baylor College Medical School.

If a child who has been injured returns to play too early, “they’re injuring a brain that’s already vulnerable,” he said.

Many players, coaches, referees and parents do not know all the possible symptoms of concussion, the report noted. Amnesia or loss of consciousness are the most dramatic But players who experience symptoms such as headaches, inattention and dizziness for more than 15 minutes should not return to play until they are symptom-free for a week, the report recommended.

“You can have a significant concussion and not lose consciousness,” Hergenroeder said.

All support staff around soccer players need to be educated about the warning signs--including primary care physicians, said Dr. Jill Brooks, director of the neuropsychology program at the Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Group in New Jersey.

The report does not advocate the use of helmets, which can lead to even more aggressive play, Hergenroeder said.

“When you put a hard shell on somebody, they feel invincible,” he said.