Neck muscle resistance training is believed to reduce the occurrence and severity of head and neck injuries in athletes participating in sports such as soccer and football. But the results of a new study challenge this assumption.In the study, 36 collegiate soccer players participated in an 8-week traditional head and neck resistance-training program to see if the training would reduce the player’s head acceleration during impact.Head impacts absorbed during soccer may cause head acceleration injuries, similar to what occurs during a car crash, Dr. Ryan T. Tierney, director of Temple University’s Graduate Athletic Training Program explained. These impacts may cause impair mental functioning and, overtime, sometimes lead to permanent disability.
