HEALTHY LIVING: The dangerous side of soccer

Soccer can be poetry in motion but some of the sport's fundamental skills – challenging for control of and heading balls in the air – can have unpleasant consequences for young players' health.

For young soccer players, concussions are a serious – and growing – threat. In September 2016, a study of nearly 3 million 7- to 17-year-old soccer players published in the journal Pediatrics found their concussion rate increased by almost 1,600 percent from 1990 to 2014, although concussions accounted for fewer than 8 percent of the total injuries noted in the study. According to the study authors, possible reasons for the skyrocketing concussion diagnosis rate include greater awareness of the symptoms and potential seriousness of concussions among coaches and parents.

A 2015 JAMA Pediatrics study underscored the link between soccer's physicality and concussions. In the study of high school soccer players, girls had 4.5 concussions and boys had 2.8 per 10,000 practices or matches. Contact between players caused the most concussions. Heading the ball resulted in more concussions than any other soccer-specific play.

Tips for parents

What can you do to keep your young Carli Lloyd or Lionel Messi safe from concussions? These tips can help:

• Encourage your child to follow the principles of good sportsmanship at all times.

• Ensure coaches and officials know and follow the rules of the game, as many concussions result from illegal play.

• Find out whether coaches and officials know how to recognize a concussion and have a plan in place to take appropriate steps if a concussion occurs.

• Have your child work with a fitness professional to strengthen his neck muscles.

• If your child is 10 or younger, ensure their league follows U.S. Youth Soccer's recommendation to ban heading for this age group. The organization also advises leagues to limit heading in practice for 11- to 13-year-old players.

• Teach older kids proper heading technique: eyes on the ball and strike with the forehead.

You can't hide, concussions

The signs of a concussion can be subtle – not everyone loses consciousness or experiences an injury significant enough to cause severe symptoms, such as vomiting, confusion or difficulty with balance. Knowing what to look for in a mild or moderate concussion is important for every parent, whether your child plays sports or not.

Most pediatric concussions have nothing to do with athletics. They happen when children are just being themselves – dancing with reckless abandon, playing tag at recess or riding their bicycles. Here are the red flags to watch out for:

• Drowsiness

• Headache

• Mild confusion or trouble concentrating

• Moodiness

• Nausea

• Trouble sleeping

• Vision abnormalities, such as seeing flashing lights

If you have concerns about your child's health, speak with your physician. In the event of an emergency, the emergency room at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is here for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more about our services, visit NorthwestHealth.com today.

About Siloam Springs Regional Hospital

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital (SSRH) is a licensed 73-bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and The Joint Commission. Some services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care units, obstetrics, outpatient diagnostic services and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. With more than 50 physicians on the medical staff, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital provides compassionate, customer-focused care. SSRH is an affiliate of Northwest Health, the largest health system in Northwest Arkansas. Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs, Ark. For more information, visit NorthwestHealth.com.