The effect of neck strength and anthropometric properties on the linear and rotational accelerations experienced by academy footballers during heading: an exploratory analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between anthropometric properties and neck strength with linear and rotational accelerations during heading.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven male footballers from a UK academy.

MAIN OUTCOMES: Independent variables included head and neck circumference, head mass, head-neck segment mass, and strength. Dependent variables were mouthguard-derived linear and rotational acceleration.

RESULTS

A total of 11 male footballer recorded 259 heading events (24 ± 8 per player). Trivial associations were observed between neck length, head-neck segment mass, and side flexion strength with linear acceleration (r = -0.04-0.18, p = 0.001-0.638). There was trivial-to-small association between neck circumference, head mass and strength in forward flexion and extension with linear acceleration (r = 0.05-0.33, p = 0.001-0.602). Neck circumference, head mass, and strength in forward flexion and extension showed trivial-to-small associations (r = 0.05-0.33, p = 0.001-0.602). Neck length, circumference, and side flexion strength showed trivial-to-large associations with rotational acceleration (r = -0.17-0.70, p < 0.001-0.166), while head mass, head-neck segment mass, and strength in flexion and extension had trivial-to-small associations (r = 0.01-0.75, p < 0.001-0.955). Fixed effects explained 4.3-6.5% of the variance in linear and rotational head accelerations.

CONCLUSION

Neck strength and anthropometric factors showed mixed associations with head accelerations during heading, explaining a small proportion of the variance in linear and rotational accelerations.