An Evaluation of the Balance Error Scoring System in Female Soccer Players Following Soccer Heading: A Pilot Study.

Background: Soccer is a contact sport during which participants risk injury, including due to concussion. Interestingly, the task most frequently associated with concussions is the act of heading the ball. This study seeks to answer the following research question: Does an acute playing of purposeful soccer heading in female football players lead to changes in BESS normative outcomes and balance? Additionally, we aim to explore the relationship between a gold-standard BESS Test and a Balance Test performed on a force plate.

Methods: This project involved twenty-eight female soccer players (age = 19.6 + 2.96 years, mass = 60.4+ 5.3 kg, and height = 163.6 + 6.4 cm). pre and post the heading condition and the results of the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. The participants were healthy and underwent BESS monitoring on a force plate before and after heading and footing training. Standard 450 g soccer balls were utilized. Participants performed ten headers for the header condition and ten footers for the footer condition. Resultant sway velocity and BESS error outcomes were calculated before and after heading and footing training. I need a brief description of the statistical approach here.

Results: Statistically significant increases after the heading condition were found for Single Leg Stance (COP PATH) score (Z = -3.986, p = 0.000), BESS score on foam surface (Z = -2.511, p = 0.012), BESS score on firm surface (Z = -2.353, p = 0.019). A statistically significant increase after the footer condition was found for the Tandem Stance (mm2) score (Z = -2.900, p = 0.004). A statistically significant difference between the group conditions was found in the post-BESS score foam difference (U = 268.500, p = 0.042). BESS score foam mean increase was 1.93 after the heading condition and 0.21 after the footer condition.

Conclusion: This pilot study not only tests the feasibility of using force plates to measure BESS outcomes after heading in female soccer but also underscores the effectiveness of using BESS parameters to evaluate changes in balance function following heading compared to a control footer condition. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the potential effects of soccer on balance in female players, contributing to the body of knowledge in sports medicine and physical education.

Level of evidence: 3.