Researchers are looking a little more closely at soccer when it comes to head injuries suffered in sports.

Some of this interest stems from the 2012 death of a 29-year old soccer player. He died of a degenerative brain disease, ALS, following years of playing college soccer and later, in a pro development league. While his death was attributed to ALS, his brain was found to have signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Those who know anything about CTE, likely associate it more with sports like boxing, football and hockey – not soccer. But the truth is, while soccer doesn’t involve being tackled by a 300 pound linebacker, soccer is a game marked by repeated head hits from many sources; other players, falls and heading the ball. Researchers are now looking at the consequences of what repetitive head hitting in soccer can do to the brain.

Heading the ball is a hallmark of soccer. And it is experienced most commonly during practice. A study of amateur adult soccer players has already revealed that the more players head the ball, the more likely they are to suffer brain damage.

In my experience treating concussions, soccer is a frequent cause. In fact, it’s the second most common cause of concussion that I see. Girls are more likely to sustain this than boys, though maybe it’s simply reported more in girls. Who knows? There’s also some suspicion that boys have stronger necks that act as better shock absorbers to sudden head movements. But that’s still just a theory.

The fact is, concussions are not unique to football players.

This new concern that soccer can be added to football and hockey as sports with a high risk of concussion is valid. As a physician who works extensively with soccer players who have sustained concussions, this comes as no surprise. In fact, there are estimates that the concussion rate of women’s soccer now approaches that of football.

To varying degrees there are concussions in almost every sport. We’ve just been more focused on football. But as we recognize that this treatable injury occurs commonly, we need to have the same level of vigilance and recognition that is being applied in the football realm.