AUTHOR=Smirl Jonathan D. , Peacock Dakota , Wright Alexander D. , Bouliane Kevin J. , Dierijck Jill , Burma Joel S. , Kennefick Michael , Wallace Colin , van Donkelaar Paul 

TITLE=An Acute Bout of Soccer Heading Subtly Alters Neurovascular Coupling Metrics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.00738

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2020.00738

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> The current investigation examined how a bout of soccer heading may impact brain function.</p><p><bold>Design:</bold> Semi-randomized crossover cohort.</p><p><bold>Setting:</bold> Controlled soccer heading.</p><p><bold>Participants:</bold> Seven male soccer players (24.1 ± 1.5 years).</p><p><bold>Intervention:</bold> 40 successful soccer headers were performed in 20 min (25 m, launch velocity ~80 km/h). X2 xPatch recorded linear and rotational head accelerations during each impact. A contact control “<italic>sham”</italic> condition – ball made body contact, but not by the head; and a no activity time “<italic>control”</italic> condition were also completed.</p><p><bold>Main Outcome Measures:</bold> Posterior and middle cerebral artery (PCA and MCA, respectively), cerebral blood velocity (CBV) was recorded during a visual task (neurovascular coupling: NVC) alongside SCAT3 symptoms scores pre/post a controlled bout of soccer heading.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Cumulative linear and rotational accelerations were 1,574 ± 97.9 g and 313,761 ± 23,966 rads/s<sup>2</sup>, respectively, during heading and changes in SCAT3 symptom number (pre: 2.6 ± 3.0; post: 6.7 ± 6.2, <italic>p</italic> = <italic>0.13</italic>) and severity (pre: 3.7 ± 3.6, post: 9.4 ± 7.6, <italic>p</italic> = <italic>0.11</italic>) were unchanged. In the PCA, no NVC differences were observed, including: relative CBV increase (28.0 ± 7.6%<italic>, p</italic> = <italic>0.71</italic>) and total activation (188.7 ± 68.1 cm, <italic>p</italic> = <italic>0.93</italic>). However, MCA-derived NVC metrics were blunted following heading, demonstrating decreased relative CBV increase (7.8 ± 3.1%, <italic>p</italic> = <italic>0.03</italic>) and decreased total activation (26.7 ± 45.3 cm, <italic>p</italic> = <italic>0.04</italic>).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Although an acute bout of soccer heading did not result in an increase of concussion-like symptoms, there were alterations in NVC responses within the MCA during a visual task. This suggests an acute bout of repetitive soccer heading can alter CBV regulation within the region of the brain associated with the header impacts.</p>