JSAMS Plus (Jun 2024)
The effect of ball pressure and maximal isometric neck strength on head acceleration during purposeful heading in adult football players during heading drills
Abstract
Objective: This randomised repeated measures study explored the effect of ball pressure and maximal isometric neck strength on head acceleration during purposeful heading in adult football players during heading drills within a laboratory environment. Methods: Recreational football players (n = 17) attended one familiarisation session to determine baseline maximal isometric neck strength, followed by two experimental sessions where they randomly trialled two conditions (>72-h apart). The first condition included 20 rotational headers with a match-ball at low-pressure (58.6 kPa; 8.5 psi) and the second included 20 rotational headers with a match-ball at high-pressure (103.4 kPa; 15.0 psi) whilst instrumented with an inertial measurement unit. Results: A statistically significant difference between conditions for both peak linear head acceleration (F = 15.2; p= < 0.001) and peak angular head velocity (F = 5.71; p = 0.018) during purposeful heading. The low-pressure ball condition demonstrated a 12 % reduction in peak linear acceleration and 6 % reduction in peak angular velocity when compared with high-pressure ball condition. Additionally, neck strength significantly predicted head acceleration during purposeful heading (p = <0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lower ball pressure and higher neck strength can lower head acceleration during heading in adult football players during heading drills within a laboratory environment.
