scholarly journals A NECK STRENGTH TRAINING PROTOCOL IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS FOR CONCUSSION RISK REDUCTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0016
Author(s):  
Torsten Rotto ◽  
Emily Kraus ◽  
Michael Fredericson
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Strength Training ◽  
T Test ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Lateral Flexion ◽  
High School Football ◽  
Text Figure ◽  
Neck Strength ◽  
Training Protocol

Background: Increased neck strength may be a protective factor for reducing concussions in youth athletes. However, little research exists regarding validated neck strength training methods among this demographic. Purpose: To determine whether a 7-week neck strength training period is sufficient to achieve significant gains in neck strength and size amongst high school football players. Additionally, to assess if increased neck strength influences concussion outcomes. Methods: This study enrolled 54 male high school football players, ages 14-17, in a 7-week strength training protocol in which neck exercises were incorporated into preseason strength and conditioning workouts (figure 1). Pre- and post-neck strength was assessed in four directions: forward flexion (FF), extension (EXT), right lateral flexion (RLF) and left lateral flexion (LLF). Strength was measured as maximal isometric head pressure applied into a pre-inflated sphygmomanometer cuff (figure 2). Concussion totals from the subsequent 2018 season were compared with totals from the 2017 and 2016 seasons per data obtained from the team’s athletic trainer. Results: Fifty athletes in total were analyzed; 4/54 athletes did not complete final testing due to scheduling conflicts. A two sample t-test of neck circumferences revealed a statistically significant increase of 0.37 cm from pre- to post-neck strength training (p=0.0025, figure 3). Single sample strength t-test analysis (corrected for cuff pre-inflation) demonstrated a statistically significant post-test strength increase of 19.8% (FF), 11.0% (EX), 18.8% (RLF), and 18.0% (LLF) (p<0.001, figure 3). The team suffered 4 concussions in the 2018 season, 2 of which were sustained by athletes who did not participate in preseason neck training, compared to 12 concussions in 2017 and 7 concussions in 2016 (figure 3). Conclusion This study demonstrates that increases in neck size and strength can be achieved amongst high school athletes using easily implemented training methods during a 7-week preseason training period. The additional observation of reduced concussion outcomes is not conclusive, though these initial results are promising. Additional research is needed to investigate the potential of neck strengthening in modifying concussion risk. Funding provided by the Stanford Medical Scholars Fellowship Program [Figure: see text][Figure: see text][Figure: see text]

Physical and Performance Characteristics of Successful High School Football Players

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry N. Williford ◽  
Jane Kirkpatrick ◽  
Michele Scharff-Olson ◽  
Daniel L. Blessing ◽  
Nai Zhen Wang
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Football Players ◽  
High School Football ◽  
And Performance

Athletic Scholarships in Intercollegiate Football

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Pitts ◽  
Jon Paul Rezek
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletics ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Football Players ◽  
High School Football ◽  
Football Coaches ◽  
Athletic Scholarships

Despite the financial and cultural importance of intercollegiate athletics in the United States, there is a paucity of research into how athletic scholarships are awarded. In this article, the authors empirically examine the factors that universities use in their decision to offer athletic scholarships to high school football players. Using a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model, the authors find a player’s weight, height, body mass index (BMI), race, speed, on-the-field performance, and his high school team’s success often have large and significant impacts on the number of scholarship offers he receives. There is also evidence of a negative relationship between academic performance and scholarship offers. In addition, the authors find evidence of a scholarship premium for players from Florida and Texas. The results also show that running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs appear to generate the most attention from college football coaches, other things equal.

The Association between Baseline Eye Tracking Performance and Concussion Assessments in High School Football Players

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie R. Oldham ◽  
Christina L. Master ◽  
Gregory A. Walker ◽  
William P. Meehan ◽  
David R. Howell
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Tracking Performance ◽  
Football Players ◽  
High School Football

Spinal Trauma and Symptoms in High School Football Players

1983 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 122-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Goodwin Gerberich ◽  
James D. Priest ◽  
James R. Boen ◽  
Conrad P. Straub
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Spinal Trauma ◽  
Football Players ◽  
High School Football

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Cervical Muscle Strains in Collegiate and High School Football Athletes, 2011–2012 Through 2013–2014 Academic Years

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 780-786
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Lee ◽  
Melissa C. Kay ◽  
Kristen L. Kucera ◽  
William E. Prentice ◽  
Zachary Y. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
High School Football ◽  
Cervical Muscle

Context Cervical muscle strains are an often-overlooked injury, with neck- and spine-related research typically focusing on spinal cord and vertebral injuries. Objective To examine the rates and distributions of cervical muscle strains in collegiate and high school football athletes. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Collegiate and high school football teams. Patients or Other Participants The National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP) collected data from collegiate football athletes. The High School National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (HS NATION) and High School Reporting Information Online (HS RIO) collected data from high school football athletes. Data from the 2011–2012 through 2013–2014 academic years were used. Main Outcome Measure(s) Athletic trainers collected injury and exposure data for football players. Injury counts, injury rates per 10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs), and injury rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results The NCAA-ISP reported 49 cervical muscle strains (rate = 0.96/10 000 AEs), of which 28 (57.1%) were TL (time loss; rate = 0.55/10 000 AEs). High School NATION reported 184 cervical muscle strains (rate = 1.66/10 000 AEs), of which 33 (17.9%) were TL injuries (rate = 0.30/10 000 AEs). The HS RIO, which collects only TL injuries, reported 120 TL cervical muscle strains (rate = 0.51/10 000 AEs). The overall injury rate was lower in the NCAA-ISP than in HS NATION (injury rate ratio = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.42, 0.79); when restricted to TL injuries, the overall injury rate was higher in the NCAA-ISP (injury rate ratio = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.11, 3.03). No differences were found when comparing TL injuries in HS RIO and the NCAA-ISP. Cervical muscle-strain rates were higher during competitions than during practices across all 3 surveillance systems for all injuries. Most cervical muscle strains were due to player contact (NCAA-ISP = 85.7%, HS NATION = 78.8%, HS RIO = 85.8%). Conclusions The incidence of cervical muscle strains in football players was low compared with other injuries. Nonetheless, identifying and implementing interventions, particularly those aimed at reducing unsafe player contact, are essential to further decrease the risk of injury and associated adverse outcomes.

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