Heading Behavior and Concussions in Soccer

As a private practitioner with Westsports Medicine in Connecticut, Dr. Stu Steinman builds on more than two decades of experience in treating acute and chronic conditions of athletes. Focused largely on safety outreach for teachers and coaches, Dr. Stu Steinman also stands out as part of the committee that helped to create Connecticut's original concussion legislation.

According to research released through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular “heading” of the ball in soccer may increase a player's risk of concussion symptoms by up to 300 percent. The study followed 222 adult amateur players, who completed a series of Web-based surveys over the course of nine months. 

Researchers used frequency of heading behaviors to divide participants into four groups. Those who intentionally used their heads most frequently did so approximately 125 times over the course of two weeks. The increased prevalence of concussion symptoms in this group aligns with previous findings from study author Dr. Michael Lipton, who found that athletes with more than 1,000 heading events per year were more likely to show structural changes in the brain similar to those of traumatic brain injury.

These results are particularly relevant to leaders and parents in youth sports, as the effects of a childhood concussion can be more serious than those experienced by adults. Symptoms last longer in children, and data suggests that pediatric concussions can have a long-term impact on brain development.

Builders Beyond Borders Volunteers Sell Hot Chocolate to Raise Funds

Board certified in sports medicine and emergency medicine, Dr. Stu Steinman works as an attending physician for Westsports Medicine in Norwalk, Connecticut. Heavily involved in his community, Dr. Stu Steinman runs a volunteer clinic in Westport, Connecticut, for Builders Beyond Borders. 

Also known as B3, the organization allows high school students to achieve leadership and responsibility skills through local and global community service projects. Begun in 1993 with 29 participants, B3 now relies on hundreds of students and thousands of families to achieve its mission. Among its accomplishments are five playgrounds construction projects, 13 water projects, and 143 home rehabs. Each year, B3 participants contribute more than 20,000 community service hours.

As a nonprofit, B3 relies on financial contributions to fulfill its mission. One fundraising event was a hot chocolate sale sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. The event occurred on December 17 and December 18, 2016, along Main Street in Westport. Volunteers set up the booth in front of Tavern on Main and fought off cold weather and wind to sell the hot chocolate. They also helped spread holiday cheer to the area.