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).

中文翻译：

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增加颈部运动的 FIFA 11+ 对头球过程中颈部最大等长强度和头部冲击强度峰值的影响：一项试点研究

背景

更高的颈部力量被认为可以减少足球中有目的地头球时头部的撞击幅度。

目标

该试点试验探讨了颈部锻炼计划对 (1) 颈部力量和 (2) 男性和女性青少年足球运动员头球时头部冲击强度的影响。

方法

男孩和女孩（12-17 岁）按团队随机分配到干预组（5 周的监督神经肌肉颈部锻炼纳入 FIFA 11 + 的第 2 部分，每周完成 3 次）或对照组（通常是 FIFA 11 + 的第 2 部分FIFA 11+，没有颈部锻炼）。结果包括从掷球入界（在基线和 6 周）标准化头球过程中的等长颈部力量和头部冲击幅度（峰值线性加速度和峰值角速度），以及干预球员和教练完成的评估调查。

结果

总共有 52 名玩家（n  = 31 干预；n  = 21 控制）完成了研究。混合模型方差分析 (ANOVA) 显示颈部强度变量 ( p  < 0.001)、峰值线性加速度 ( p  = 0.04) 和峰值角速度 ( p = 0.04) 随着时间的推移干预组和对照组之间。干预球员表现出平均复合颈部力量增加（53.8% 干预 vs 15.6% 控制）以及从基线到后续的头球过程中平均峰值线性头部加速度降低（− 11.8% vs − 5.0%）。在干预组中，女孩 (− 27.7%) 的峰值角速度降低比男孩 (− 11.5%) 更明显。在 FIFA 11+ 的第 2 部分中增加颈部练习是可行的，并被球员和教练接受。

结论

平均而言，完成颈部锻炼的球员在头球过程中表现出等长颈部力量的增加和头部冲击强度的降低。这些练习很容易融入日常训练中。

澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心（编号：ACTRN12619001375145）。