Football Helmets Don't Stop Concussions

Football helmets are efficiently designed to help protect players from serious head injury, but are they effective at preventing concussions? Researchers behind a new study say "not at all."

The study, which is to be presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology next month, has found that ten of the most popular football helmet brands used by players only decrease the risk of brain injury due to concussion by 20 percent, compared to the risk involved when not wearing a helmet at all.

Researchers reached these conclusions after exposing ten popular football helmet brands to various impact forces while strapped to the head of an impact dummy. Sensors placed in the head of the dummy measured the result of each impact, spitting out data that showed the likelihood of a resulting concussion.

Results showed that while the helmets reduced risk of skull fracture and direct brain bruising by about 70 percent, they only reduced risk of concussion by 20 percent at best.

What's worse, the research team has indicated that the current design of helmets, and the very nature of football in general, means that even with more attention given to concussion prevention, little can be done about these numbers.

Why? It's long been understood that it is rotational forces, not linear, that are responsible for most concussions. This means that taking a hit from the side that may whiplash the head could harm the human brain much more seriously than a direct head-on collision. Naturally, this means that it is receivers and quarterbacks who are likely at greatest risk of concussion injury, as they are more prone to take hits from the side.

This is grave news for parents in the U.S., where almost four million children play tackle football every year. Other recent studies have indicated that concussions may have long-lasting and detrimental impacts on the brains of young athletes.

In a recent press release by the American Academy of Neurology, the study's co-authors suggested that based off their findings, coaches must be encouraged, if not regulated, to teach safer forms of tackling that reduce risk of brain injury.

The study will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology taking place between April 26 and May 3 in Philadelphia, P.A. An abstract of the study will be available online on February 27.

In a recent press release by the American Academy of Neurology, the study's co-authors suggested that based off their findings, coaches must be encouraged, if not regulated, to teach safer forms of tackling that reduce risk of brain injury.

The study is slated to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology taking place between April 26 and May 3 in Philadelphia, P.A. An abstract of the study will be available online on February 27.

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