TY - JOUR
T1 - Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impacts in Sports and Their Impact on Brain Anatomy and Function
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Hack, Lukas
AU - Singh, Bhagyashree
AU - Binkofski, Ferdinand
AU - Helmich, Ingo
N1 - Thieme. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/6/10
Y1 - 2024/6/10
N2 - Repetitive subconcussive head impacts occur regularly in sports. However, the exact relationship between their biomechanical properties and their consequences on brain structure and function has not been clarified yet. We therefore reviewed prospective cohort studies that objectively reported the biomechanical characteristics of repetitive subconcussive head impacts and their impact on brain anatomy and function. Only studies with a pre- to post-measurement design were included. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Structural white matter alterations, such as reduced fractional anisotropy and an increase in mean diffusivity values, seem to be evident in athletes exposed to repetitive subconcussive head impacts exceeding 10 g. Such changes are observable after only one season of play. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship exists between white matter abnormalities and the total number of subconcussive head impacts. However, functional changes after repetitive subconcussive head impacts remain inconclusive. We therefore conclude that repetitive subconcussive head impacts induce structural changes, but thus far without overt functional changes.
AB - Repetitive subconcussive head impacts occur regularly in sports. However, the exact relationship between their biomechanical properties and their consequences on brain structure and function has not been clarified yet. We therefore reviewed prospective cohort studies that objectively reported the biomechanical characteristics of repetitive subconcussive head impacts and their impact on brain anatomy and function. Only studies with a pre- to post-measurement design were included. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Structural white matter alterations, such as reduced fractional anisotropy and an increase in mean diffusivity values, seem to be evident in athletes exposed to repetitive subconcussive head impacts exceeding 10 g. Such changes are observable after only one season of play. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship exists between white matter abnormalities and the total number of subconcussive head impacts. However, functional changes after repetitive subconcussive head impacts remain inconclusive. We therefore conclude that repetitive subconcussive head impacts induce structural changes, but thus far without overt functional changes.
KW - Humans
KW - Biomechanical Phenomena
KW - Brain Concussion/physiopathology
KW - Athletic Injuries/physiopathology
KW - Brain/physiopathology
KW - White Matter/pathology
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a4377b2f-d868-349a-b34c-71d8c45dd0b3/
U2 - 10.1055/a-2342-3604
DO - 10.1055/a-2342-3604
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 38857880
SN - 0172-4622
VL - 45
SP - 871
EP - 883
JO - International journal of sports medicine
JF - International journal of sports medicine
IS - 12
ER -