Soccer Headers And Cannabis: Study Unveils Potential For Mitigating Repetitive Head Injuries In Players

Chronic cannabis use has the potential to mitigate the effects of repetitive head injuries, particularly in soccer players, a recent study shows.

The study, which involved 43 soccer players, aimed to understand how cannabis may assist athletes in recovering from exercise-related and repetitive injuries commonly associated with their sport.

It focused on the neurological impact of frequent headers on both cannabis consumers and non-consumers.

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The participants, averaging an age of 20, primarily engaged in smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles.

A controlled heading model was employed to assess the potential risks of oculomotor impairments and neurodegenerative diseases arising from minor head injuries. This model involved executing 20 headers consecutively with consistent intensity and frequency.

• Results: Cannabis consumers exhibited a halt in the growth of a specific parameter called near-point of convergence (NPC), which measures oculomotor function, after 24 hours.
• Non-consumers, on the other hand, continued to experience an increase in NPC for up to 72 hours.
• The study — sponsored by research funds from the Indiana University Office of Vice President for Research and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — found that cannabis consumers displayed lower levels of S100B markers associated with brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases than non-consumers.

"Our data suggest that chronic cannabis use may be associated with an enhancement of oculomotor functional resiliency and suppression of the neuroinflammatory response following 20 soccer headings," researchers say. These findings offer promising insights for soccer players seeking to reduce the risk of long-term brain damage.

However, further research on the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis in the brain is necessary, per the study.

As the conversation surrounding cannabis and its potential role in safeguarding athletes' neurological well-being gains momentum, it may pave the way for innovative approaches to injury prevention and recovery in sports.

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Photo: Courtesy Of Wesley Tingey On Unsplash