The Effectiveness of Regulations and Behavioral Interventions on Head Impacts and Concussions in Youth, High-School, and Collegiate Football: A Systematized Review

Abstract

Associate Editor Stefan M. Duma oversaw the review of this article.

Special Issue on Concussions in Sports

“…A review of regulations and interventions targeted at reducing concussion rates in football showed mixed results in terms of reductions in head impact exposure. 21 These findings support the need for making data-driven decisions in concussion interventions. Maerlender et al evaluated the safety and effectiveness of teaching athletes proper tackling technique through a rating system.…”

The Hammer and the Nail: Biomechanics of Striking and Struck Canadian University Football Players

“…Accordingly, rule changes to the game play itself could help reduce the number and severity of these impacts, as well as coaching staff enforcing behavior modifications during practices to encourage the removal of the head from collisions. 36,43 This study does not come without limitations. One team only had a subset of players instrumented with accelerometers while the other team had all players instrumented.…”

“…Rule changes have had varied results in collegiate football player head impact reduction. 36 Eliminating two practices a day during the preseason increased overall preseason head impact burden 42 while limiting the number of preseason practices had team-dependent differences in overall head impact burden. 36 , 41 However, reducing the number of minutes participating in specific high risk drills greatly reduced overall head impact exposure for collegiate football players.…”

“…10 Thus, a thorough identification of the plays and parts of the football game that are associated with more severe head impact magnitudes is essential to minimize risk of head injury in football players. 13,36,38 Concussions in the NFL have gained national and international attention, and have recently been studied using videogrammetry. 3 Attempts at reconstructing professional football impacts in the lab have reported average head kinematics for striking and struck players, 45,46 although these included a small sample of reconstructed videos (n = 27) and focused on impacts that resulted in concussive injury.…”

“… 10 Thus, a thorough identification of the plays and parts of the football game that are associated with more severe head impact magnitudes is essential to minimize risk of head injury in football players. 13 , 36 , 38 …”