November 7, 2011 22:24 — 1 Comment
Modern Football Helmets No Better Than Vintage Leatherheads at Protecting Against Subconcussive Impact
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, and United Hospital Center in West Virginia were surprised by the results of impact tests they performed comparing 21st-century American football helmets to “leatherheads” used in the early 20th century. The authors subjected both helmet types to biomechanical loads that simulated near-concussive and subconcussive head impacts from a variety of directions. They discovered that the protection offered by the vintage leather helmets often was comparable to or better than that provided by today’s varsity helmets.
Author Adam Bartsch, Ph.D., says the researchers were “very surprised. We thought that the lighter leatherhead might reduce force and torque on the neck, but never suspected the head injury metrics would be comparable. We did not appreciate how stiff the modern helmets would be in common, everyday hits. Hence, the stiff modern helmet was often comparable to the minimalistic leatherhead.” For more on information on this study, click here to read full release.
I am not at all surprised. Firstly as initially suggested by Sir Charles Symonds in Lancet ’62, it is the rotational stresses which are most important in the syndrome of concussion. And Dr. Ommaya also suggested in reviewing U.S. Navy carrier pilots who after missing the flight deck and were unable to make an effort to extricate themselves when hitting the water…he suggested that the very heavy helmet, which then had much electronic gear, was instrumental by its inertial mass in creating a concussive increased torsion. I have for some time wondered whether the old leather helmets might be better; however, I do know that Dr. Schneider did feel that the newer helmets were better protective against neck injuries. Not sure of that, however.
Report this comment