Q: My 15-year-old son loves playing soccer, but I worry that he may be doing damage when he heads the ball. Do you think it is safe?
A: "The sport of soccer is unique because of the purposeful use of the head to strike and advance the ball," says Alan Abbott, M.D., professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, who specializes in the field of sports medicine. Although the measurable effects of heading on the brain are four to six times below those known to cause concussion, confusion, or loss of consciousness, there are still some risks. "While there is no conclusive evidence that repeated heading in soccer causes brain damage, we can not be absolutely certain that heading never results in minor cognitive impairment." In the end, Abbott says, the decision is up to the parent. "My own 16-year-old son plays soccer," he notes. "I feel that the benefits of his sports participation far outweigh any possible risk from heading."
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