Football helmets may not prevent concussions as well as thought

Football helmets do little to protect against side-of-head impact or rotational force, both dangerous sources of brain injury and encephalopathy, according to researchers from the Florida Center for Headache and Sports Neurology.
Francis Conidi, MD, DO, MS, and colleagues modified a standard drop test system used to evaluate sports equipment to include data gathered from sensors placed on a crash test dummy's surrogate head after the head and neck were added to the test, thus creating a more realistic impact simulation. The test was conducted 330 times on 10 popular helmet designs. They measured both linear and rotational responses to repeated 12-miles-per-hour head impacts.
As opposed to an unhelmeted baseline condition, the researchers found that traumatic brain injury was reduced by 20%. Helmets did, however, reduce the risk of focal brain contusion by 70% to 80% and the risk of skull fracture by 60% to 70%.
While the noted helmets accomplished the goal of protecting against brain bleeds and skull fractures, they “as a group do little to protect against concussion,” Conidi told Spine Surgery Today.

“Many critics are focusing on the rankings [of the helmets]. The fact is none of the helmets in this or any study I have ever read, do an even adequate job of protecting athletes against concussion,” Conidi , who is also assistant clinical professor of neurology at Florida State University College of Medicine and vice chair of the American Academy of Neurology’s Sports Neurology Section, said.

In terms of football leagues and organizations, Conidi doesn't expect his work to cause much change. “I doubt there will be any reaction from the NFL or NCAA and even other levels as what we are presenting only confirms the consensus opinion and prior studies that helmets do little to protect athletes against concussion,” he said.

Conidi said the only way to protect/prevent the effects of rotational and lateral forces is to immobilize the cervical spine, which has the risk of spinal cord injury.

“Therefore it is highly unlikely that anyone is ever going to design a helmet that will adequately protect athletes against concussion,” Conidi said. —by Christian Ingram

The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in April.

Reference:

https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/GetDigitalAsset/11163
Disclosure: Conidi has no relevant financial disclosures. The study was supported by BRAINS Inc.