Mild jugular compression collar ameliorated changes in brain activation of working memory after one soccer season in female high school athletes

Recent neuroimaging studies have suggested that repetitive sub-concussive head impacts, even after only one sport season, may lead to pre- to post-season structural and functional alterations in male high school football athletes. However, data on female atheletes is limited. In the current investigation, we aimed to (1) assess the longitudinal pre- to post-season changes in fMRI of working memory and working memory performance, (2) quantify the association between the pre- to post-season change in fMRI of working memory and the exposure to head impact and working memory performance, and (3) assess whether wearing a neck collar designed to reduce intracranial slosh via mild compression of the jugular veins can ameliorate the changes in fMRI brain activation observed in the non-collar group after a full soccer season. A total of 48 female high school soccer athletes (age range: 14.00 – 17.97 years) were included in the study. These athletes were assigned to the non-collar group (n=21) or to the collar grou...