As Australia’s winter sports season approaches, hundreds of thousands of young athletes will take to the field in sports such as rugby, soccer, and Australian rules football, facing an ongoing risk of concussions. These injuries, particularly concerning for younger players, can lead to serious short- and long-term consequences.
While professional sports leagues have adopted detailed concussion protocols and return-to-play guidelines, junior sports often lack the necessary prevention strategies to adequately protect young athletes. Despite increased awareness and rule changes aimed at improving safety, the rate of concussions in youth sports remains high.
The Scope of the Problem
Sports-related concussions contribute significantly to emergency department visits and hospitalizations. In fact, one in five concussion hospitalizations is sports-related, although this statistic does not capture concussions treated outside hospitals, such as those managed in general practice or physiotherapy, or those that go unreported.
A recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on concussion trends over the past decade sheds light on the issue:
- Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable: Boys aged 5–14 have the highest rates of emergency department visits for concussions, signaling the impact of sports and recreational activities on these injuries.
- Young men are at the greatest risk of severe concussions: Males aged 15–24 are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for concussions compared to females in the same age group.
- Higher concussion rates in women: When adjusted for participation rates, women in contact sports such as rugby and Australian rules football experience concussions at a higher rate than men.
Why Are Children More Vulnerable?
Young athletes are more susceptible to concussions because their brains are still developing, making them particularly sensitive to the effects of head trauma. Additionally, most children and adolescents have lower neck strength than adults. This combined with a larger head size relative to their neck, results in greater forces being transmitted to the brain during impact.
Children also tend to require longer recovery periods after a concussion, during which symptoms may affect their academic performance, mental health, and ability to return to sport.
The Role of Neck Strength in Concussion Prevention
One often-overlooked factor in concussion prevention is neck strength. Research suggests that stronger neck muscles can help stabilize the head during impacts, reducing the force transmitted to the brain.
Data from high school sports indicate that athletes with stronger neck muscles are better able to control head movement during collisions, providing a more effective “shock absorber.” In soccer, adolescents who performed neuromuscular neck exercises experienced fewer concussions and less pain from heading the ball compared to those who did not engage in such exercises.
A landmark study involving 6,662 high school athletes across multiple sports found a direct correlation between neck strength and concussion risk. The study concluded that stronger neck muscles reduced the risk of concussion, suggesting even modest improvements in neck strength could offer significant protective benefits.
The Importance of Neck Strength Beyond Injury Prevention
Developing neck strength in junior athletes extends beyond concussion prevention. Fewer concussions mean less time away from sport, which could help reduce dropout rates and encourage long-term participation. This has positive implications for both athletic development and broader public health, as lifelong engagement in sports fosters better physical and mental well-being.
Additionally, reducing concussion risk helps protect cognitive development and academic performance, further underscoring the importance of neck strengthening in youth sports.
For sports organizations, implementing neck strength training is a low-cost, effective intervention that shows a commitment to athlete welfare.
How to Build Stronger Neck Muscles
Neck strengthening does not require expensive equipment or lengthy training sessions. Simple exercises can be easily incorporated into regular training routines.
Isometric neck holds are an effective starting point. To perform this exercise, athletes press their hands against their forehead, temple, or the back of their head and gently push for 5–10 seconds. This activates key neck muscles without the need for specialized equipment.
As athletes progress, these exercises can be enhanced with minimal equipment to more closely mimic the movements required in sports. Consistency is key, with exercises performed two to four times a week yielding significant improvements in neck strength and function.
A Simple Solution with Big Impact
The evidence is clear: neck strength training represents a straightforward, effective strategy to reduce concussion risk in young athletes. The minimal time and equipment required make it an accessible option for sports where head and neck injuries are common.
Parents, coaches, and sporting organizations should consider incorporating neck-strengthening exercises into the training programs of junior athletes. By doing so, they can help ensure that young athletes have safer sporting experiences and healthier futures, both on and off the field.
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