Most people have heard that those who play football or are in the military are at a larger risk for mild traumatic brain injuries. Now, it seems, soccer has joined the ranks. The frequent heading of soccer balls (using the head to hit the ball) can cause some brain damage resulting in small decreases in coordination and thinking ability, according to a new study.
In this study, researchers used MRIs to see if any changes happened to the white matter of the brain of 32 adult soccer players. They found that players who were high-frequency headers (1,000 or more per year) showed some traumatic brain injury similar to people who were in car accidents. On average, soccer players only hit with the head about 6 times while playing a game. However, during practice, they may be heading 30 or more times.
Dr. Lipton, a researcher and medical director in New York City looked specifically at how much damage it takes to have a lasting effect. He states that multiple head injuries are worse than just one, so the more that heading is done, the more likely a person is to have abnormalities of the brain. So, what can be done?
At Advanced Spinal Care, we understand that a mild traumatic brain injury often causes the C1 vertebra to move out of position. This leads to such things as headaches and impairment of cognitive function. Even a tiny misalignment of only ΒΌ of a millimeter can wreak havoc on the body. This puts pressure on the brainstem and hinders the body and the brain from communicating properly.
However, this problem can be corrected. We analyze our patients to find the specific misalignment and then work to properly adjust the C1 (also called the atlas) back into place. Once this is done, the body can begin to heal itself. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can often be reversed, and a patient can get back to his life once again.
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Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
