Author(s): GÜLER, Ö., SAHIN, F., ERSOZ, G., Institution: HEALT SCIENCES, Country: TURKEY, Abstract-ID: 1360

INTRODUCTION:
Soccer is a popular sport globally, with more than 265 million people, amateur or professional. Soccer is the only contract sport in the world where the ball is headed intentionally to control or direct the ball. It is thought that heading into soccer may cause acute traumatic brain injuries, concussion, or neurodegenerative dysfunction experienced by soccer players, negatively affecting the players in sociological, psychological, and physiological terms. This study aims to compare former players neurocognitive and motor skills with those of licensed former swimmers.
METHODS:
A total of 47 participants, n=27 soccer players and n=20 swimmers, aged between 45-65 years, were included in this study. The anthropometric values of the soccer players were age 54,7±7,33, height 176 ± 5,2, body mass: 82,5 ± 7,19, body mass index: 26,58±1,95, and body fat percentage 23,6±3,85 the anthropometric values of swimmers were age: 54,52 ± 6,44, height: 179±4,6, Body mass:87,32±4,5, body mass index:27,25 ± 1,45 Body fat percentage: 25,55±2,98. In this study, Stroop, an immediate memory task delayed memory task, was used to evaluate participants cognitive function. Biodex SD Balance System (Biodex, Shirley NY) device was used to measure the balance ability of the participants. Descriptive anthropometric and demographic data statistics were calculated as mean value and percentage distribution. Data normality distribution was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk statistical method. An independent sample t-test was applied to determine the difference between soccer players and swimmers. All statistical analyses were carried out with the SPSS 23,0 package program. In all statistical analyses, the alpha value was considered to be 0.05.
RESULTS:
A statistically significant difference was found between the soccer player (893.269 ± 163.841) and the swimmer (767.239 ± 114.518) groups according to the comparison of the mean reaction time values of the Stroop test (p = 0.005). According to the comparison of control reaction time values, a statistically significant difference was found between the football player (856,610 ± 151,811) and swimmer (752,244 ± 105,597) groups (p = 0.013)
CONCLUSION:
As a result of this study, the Stroop test compatible trial, incompatible trial, and control reaction scores of the soccer players were statistically significantly higher than the swimmers. A statistically significant difference was found between players immediate memory task expression on commission error and swimmers immediate memory task expression on commission error. There was no statistically significant difference between other parameters in an immediate and delayed memory task. In line with these results, it is seen that the executive functional functions of soccer players differ from those of swimmers of similar age. Also, according to the results of the instant memory task test, the soccer players impulsivity control was greater than that of the swimmers.