Does headering the ball cause brain damage?

[fan_of_mulligan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025lk3g

Former West Bromich Albion Striker Jeff Astle died at the age of 59 in 2002, and Jeff Astle's daughter Dawn Astle, is trying to find the link between repetitive blows to the head from headering the ball to Alzheimer's or dementia type symptoms.

So does headering the ball repetitively cause Brian Damage ???

[lidbid46]

A little pedantic I know but 'headering?' I can't let that go unchallenged! Heading the ball is just about ok but please no more 'headering!!' Sorry to be annoying, just a pet hate.

[gillsfan1066]

Yes I think it does some sort of damage , how much I would not like to say.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Well heading a ball surely does not do you any good.The ball is quite hard,but not as hard as it was in the 60`s.If you`re a CB then you`re probably heading the ball about 30-40 times a game,if you add that up over 10+ years that is a lot of power hitting your head over a number of years.I think there could be a link to brain damage.

[Garawa]

Sounds like yet another unjustified compensation claim to me. I don't see how it could be. Builders probably get several whacks which is why they wear helmets. Everyone in all walks of life will get them. I probably did at least twice a day which amounts to the same amount during 2 football matches a week. This should all be stopped.

Lol Lidbid about pet hates. I am the same with mis-queue. They all say it and its fine if I'm watching snooker otherwise its a mis-kick! Clue is there, not hard really!

[shoutingman]

Queue? Or Cue?

[Elgrande]

If the anti sport brigade have their way all contact in sport will be stopped. Heading the ball may, in some people cause some damage, but so did going to the pub every day after training! Next it will be body armour in amateur boxing. Tennis balls used in cricket and international tap Rugby!

[gillsfan1066]

Yes I think it does some sort of damage ,but how much I would not like to say.

[CadburyMan]

In principle it is no different to "vibration white knuckle" which is not uncommon to miners or hearing defects caused by prolonged exposure to noise but are these hazards any worse than bar workers being continually exposed to second-hand cigarette fumes ?

We saw sense and banned smoking in such establishments which has had the effect of making them far more inviting and dare I say popular.

[Elgrande]

They seem more popular because hundreds of pubs closed after the smoking ban. When the ban was brought in it was done in such a Draconian way it was ridiculous. Outside areas started to spring up so they then regulated the design of those. Before the ban CAMRA opened 12 no smoking pubs, 10 shut within 6 months because they were empty.
As for the heading thing, I am sure there could be a link to brain damage in some people, but it didn't seem to effect lots of others so it seems that it might be more related to the individual than actual heading.

[Garawa]

Queue? Or Cue?

Definitely mis-queue. When you have spent ages in a line busting for a pee only to realise you have been standing in the ladies line, ha ha!!!! I did mean cue, almost made my own pet hate pointless!!!

As for Elgrande's point I think he is spot on when you think of some recent players who have passed at a grand age (and others still living at an even riper one). They played when the ball was hardest without any effect it seems and this seems to be an isolated case. It cannot stand.

[CadburyMan]

But do we not now live in a much more enlightened society; we have the power to not make the perceived mistakes of the past. I would agree that the research is far from complete but surely once a risk is identified it is negligent to not take steps to eradicate it.

As for the smoking ban in pubs I can say that I know far more people who now pay visits than in the pre-ban days. Brewing industry has been found out for the high prices charged and have looked for a for a way out and so many people have been so stupid as to fall for the smoking argument.

[fan_of_mulligan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30303721

Dr Ann McKee is a Neuropathologist at Boston University and she has warned that children's brains can be damaged by heading footballs at an early age.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30303721

Dr Ann McKee is a Neuropathologist at Boston University and she has warned that children's brains can be damaged by heading footballs at an early age.

Children`s brains are still developing,so I can see why she says that.

[fan_of_mulligan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34790614?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_match_of_the_day&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport

Scotland's team doctor believes football authorities should look at changing the rules of the game to prevent concussion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34780549

The United States Soccer Federation has outlined plans to stop children aged 10 and under heading footballs.