Subconcussive Impacts Evaluation Stratergies in Sepak Takraw: A Mini Review

Subconcussive impacts, characterized by cranial impacts that result in rapid head acceleration without immediate clinical symptoms of concussion, are a growing concern in sports, including sepak takraw. This mini-review explores current evaluation strategies for these impacts in related sports to sepak takraw, highlighting the usage of biomechanical sensors, neuroimaging modalities, and biofluid biomarkers. Mouthguard and skin-mounted sensors are biomechanical sensors that widely used in capturing head kinematics in non-helmeted sports, whilst; diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) frequently detect white-matter and metabolic alterations. Among biomarkers, neurofilament light (NfL) consistently correlates with cumulative axonal stress, while tau-PET offers pathology-specific insight into chronic tauopathy. This review highlights the need for multimodal, longitudinal approaches and field-deployable technologies, and advocates broader inclusion of diverse athletic populations especially for sepak takraw players. The directions can inform protocols that monitor, mitigate, and ultimately prevent long-term brain-health consequences in sepak takraw and comparable sports.