{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,5]],"date-time":"2026-11-05T12:37:22Z","timestamp":1793882242302,"version":"4.7.0"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]],"date-time":"2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746403200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Soccer players, particularly females, exhibit an increased risk of both concussions and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries. Emerging evidence suggests that neurcognitive deficits following concussions may impair neuromuscular control, increasing ACL injury susceptibility. This study aims to explore the interplay between concussions, neuromuscular deficits, and ACL injury risk, while proposing targeted prevention strategies. Methods: A comprehensive review of current literature was conducted to analyze the biomechanical and neurophysiological impact of concussions on ACL injury risk. Key areas investigated include the effect of sub-concussive impacts on proprioception, reaction time, and postural stability, as well as sex-based differences in injury susceptibility. Results: Findings indicate that post-concussion neuromuscular impairments\u2014such as altered proprioception, delayed reaction times, and compromised joint stability\u2014heighten ACL injury risk. Female athletes, due to biomechanical and hormonal factors, are particularly vulnerable. Preventive measures, including neuromuscular training, cervical spine strengthening, and optimized return-to-play protocols, are essential to mitigate these risks. Conclusions: Longitudinal research is needed to further elucidate the connection between head trauma and ACL injuries. Implementing evidence-based interventions and policy changes, such as modifying heading exposure in youth athletes, may enhance player safety and reduce long-term injury burden in female soccer players.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14093199","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]],"date-time":"2025-05-05T21:42:09Z","timestamp":1746481329000},"page":"3199","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["The Impact of Concussions on Neuromuscular Control and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk in Female Soccer Players: Mechanisms and Prevention\u2014A Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9138-6994","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Georgios","family":"Kakavas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Fysiotek Spine & Sports Lab, 17562 Athens, Greece"},{"name":"ErgoMech-Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5220-8992","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikolaos","family":"Malliaropoulos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Thessaloniki Sports Medicine Clinic, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece"},{"name":"Sports Clinic, Rheumatology Department, Barts Health NHS Trust, London E1 1BB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Skarpas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, Hellenic Open University, 10677 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8650-2746","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Florian","family":"Forelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Haute-Ecole Arc Sant\u00e9, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 2800 Del\u00e9mont, Switzerland"},{"name":"Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Clinic of Domont, Ramsay Healthcare, OrthoLab, 95330 Domont, France"},{"name":"Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Masseurs\u2014Kin\u00e9sith\u00e9rapeutes du Sport Lab, 93380 Pierrefite sur Seine, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"495","article-title":"Concussions among United States High School and Collegiate Athletes","volume":"42","author":"Gessel","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. 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