A new study, released on Monday February 17th, has revealed that the modern football helmets currently used on the field at all competitive levels may have limitations when it comes to protecting against blows to the side of the head, which are known to cause concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and have been linked to long-term consequences like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
According to the researchers behind the study, a standard drop test system was modified and approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, which tests impacts and helmet safety. A crash test dummy head and neck were then used to simulate a side impact, and sensors were placed on the dummy’s head to measure linear and rotational responses to repetitive 12 mph impacts. The research team conducted a total of 330 tests to measure how 10 of today’s popular football helmet models could potentially protect players from traumatic brain injury. The models tested included:
- Adams a2000
- Rawlings Quantum
- Riddell 360
- Riddell Revolution
- Riddell Revolution Speed
- Riddell VSR4
- Schutt Air Advantage
- Schutt DNA Pro+
- Xenith X1
- Xenith X2
In general, football helmets proved to reduce the risk of brain injury only by 20% when compared to not wearing a helmet at all. Of the 10 helmet designs tested, the Adams a2000 provided the overall best protection against concussions and the Schutt Air Advantage offered the least. The Riddell 360 provided the most all-around protection against serious, closed head injuries while the Adams a2000 the least, despite its ranking as the best for protection against concussion (or mild traumatic brain injury). Study co-author, Frank Conidi, MD, DO, MS, director of the Florida Center for Headache and Sports Neurology and Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at Florida State University College of Medicine in Port Saint Lucie, FL, said:
“Alarmingly, those that offered the least protection are among the most popular on the field. Biomechanics researchers have long understood that rotational forces, not linear forces, are responsible for serious brain damage including concussion, brain injury complications and brain bleeds. Yet generations of football and other sports participants have been under the assumption that their brains are protected by their investment in headwear protection.”
Compared to impact tests that used crash dummy heads wearing no helmets, the football helmets tested reduced the risk of skull fracture by 60 to 70 percent, while reducing the risk of focal brain tissue bruising by 70 to 80 percent. Conidi added:
“Protection against concussion and complications of brain injury is especially important for young players, including elementary and middle school, high school and college athletes, whose still-developing brains are more susceptible to the lasting effects of trauma.”
The study’s findings are slated to be formally presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia in late April.
Florida Study Reinforces Existing Theories that Modern Equipment cannot Prevent Head Injury
The recent Florida-based study further reinforces existing data that has already suggested that modern helmets and mouth guards protect athletes’ teeth, skulls, and faces – but not their brains. Prior studies have shown that the equipment greatly reduces the risk of facial and head trauma, like skull fractures, but players should be taught not to play as if the equipment makes them invincible.
In the past, other research had discovered that for many years, younger athletes tend to hit harder and sacrifice their bodies in contact sports where protective gear is worn; as they feel a heightened (yet false) sense of physical security.
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