When it comes to preventing concussions, football and hockey get the majority of both the press and research dollars. But a new study by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health will examine the efficacy of using headgear for high school soccer players. Senior scientist at UW and the lead researcher, Tim McGuine, says concussions in soccer aren’t caused by directly heading the ball, but the actions associated with heading. McGuine says a big mystery is why female athletes get concussed at a higher rate than their male counterparts. McGuine says its important to study soccer headgear in the context of what happens to the entire injury picture, not just concussions. Researchers will sign up schools this spring and the study will start in August. McGuine was a guest on AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program.
