- Title
- The Effect of the FIFA 11 + with Added Neck Exercises on Maximal Isometric Neck Strength and Peak Head Impact Magnitude During Heading: A Pilot Study
- Creator
- Peek, Kerry; Andersen, Jordan; McKay, Marnee J.; Versteegh, Theo; Gilchrist, Ian A.; Meyer, Tim; Gardner, Andrew
- Relation
- Sports Medicine Vol. 52, Issue 3, p. 655-668
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01564-0
- Publisher
- Adis International Ltd.
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- Background: Higher neck strength has been postulated to reduce head impact magnitude during purposeful heading in football. Objectives: This pilot trial explored the effect of a neck exercise programme on (1) neck strength and (2) head impact magnitude during heading in male and female adolescent football players. Methods: Boys and girls (aged 12–17 years) were randomised by team to the intervention (5 weeks of supervised neuromuscular neck exercises integrated into part 2 of the FIFA 11 + , completed three times per week) or the control group (usual part 2 of the FIFA 11 + , no neck exercises). Outcomes included isometric neck strength and head impact magnitude (peak linear acceleration and peak angular velocity) during standardised heading from a throw-in (at baseline and 6 weeks) plus completion of an evaluation survey by intervention players and coaches. Results: In total, 52 players (n = 31 intervention; n = 21 control) completed the study. Mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in neck strength variables (p < 0.001), peak linear acceleration (p = 0.04) and peak angular velocity (p = 0.04) between the intervention and control groups over time. Intervention players demonstrated increases in mean composite neck strength (53.8% intervention vs 15.6% control) as well as decreases in mean peak linear head acceleration during heading (− 11.8% vs − 5.0%) from baseline to follow-up. Reduction in peak angular velocity was more pronounced in girls (− 27.7%) than boys (− 11.5%) in the intervention group. The addition of neck exercises into part 2 of the FIFA 11 + was feasible and accepted by players and coaches. Conclusion: On average, players who completed neck exercises demonstrated an increase in isometric neck strength and a decrease in head impact magnitude during heading. These exercises were easily incorporated into usual training. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no: ACTRN12619001375145).
- Subject
- football; neck strength; excercise; soccer
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1466037
- Identifier
- uon:47444
- Identifier
- ISSN:0112-1642
- Language
- eng
- Reviewed
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