Comparison of head impact attenuation capabilities between a standard American football helmet and novel protective equipment that couples a helmet and shoulder pads

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Cecchi ◽  
Theophil J. Oros ◽  
Justin J. Ringhofer ◽  
Derek C. Monroe
Keyword(s):  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Football Helmet ◽  
Impact Attenuation

Association Between Antemortem FLAIR White Matter Hyperintensities and Neuropathology in Brain Donors Exposed to Repetitive Head Impacts

Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013012
Author(s):  
Madeline Uretsky ◽  
Sylvain Bouix ◽  
Ronald J. Killiany ◽  
Yorghos Tripodis ◽  
Brett Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Microvascular Disease ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Repetitive Head Impacts ◽  
Pathological Correlation ◽  
Daily Function

Background and Objectives:Late neuropathologies of repetitive head impacts from contact sports can include chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and white matter degeneration. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI scans are often viewed as microvascular disease from vascular risk, but might have unique underlying pathologies and risk factors in the setting of repetitive head impacts. We investigated the neuropathological correlates of antemortem WMH in brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts. The association between WMH, and repetitive head impact exposure and informant-reported cognitive and daily function were tested.Methods:This imaging-pathological correlation study included symptomatic deceased men exposed to repetitive head impacts. Donors had antemortem FLAIR scans from medical records and were without evidence of CNS neoplasm, large vessel infarcts, hemorrhage, and/or encephalomalacia. WMH were quantified using log-transformed values for total lesion volume (TLV), calculated using the lesion prediction algorithm from the Lesion Segmentation Toolbox. Neuropathological assessments included semi-quantitative ratings of white matter rarefaction, cerebrovascular disease, p-tau severity (CTE stage, dorsolateral frontal cortex), and Aβ. Among football players, years of play was a proxy for repetitive head impact exposure. Retrospective informant-reported cognitive and daily function were assessed using the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS) and Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Regression models controlled for demographics, diabetes, hypertension, and MRI resolution. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.Results:The sample included 75 donors: 67 football players and 8 non-football contact sport athletes and/or military veterans. Dementia was the most common MRI indication (64%). Fifty-three (70.7%) had CTE at autopsy. Log-TLV was associated with white matter rarefaction (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.03,5.24, p=0.04), arteriolosclerosis (OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.02,5.52, p=0.04), CTE stage (OR=2.58, 95% CI=1.17,5.71, p=0.02), and dorsolateral frontal p-tau severity (OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.32,6.97, p=0.01). There was no association with Aβ. More years of football play was associated with log-TLV (b=0.04, 95% CI=0.01,0.06, p=0.01). Greater log-TLV correlated with higher FAQ (unstandardized beta=4.94, 95% CI=0.42,8.57, p=0.03) and CDS scores (unstandardized beta=15.35, 95% CI=-0.27,30.97, p=0.05).Discussion:WMH might capture long-term white matter pathologies from repetitive head impacts, including those from white matter rarefaction and p-tau, in addition to microvascular disease. Prospective imaging-pathological correlation studies are needed.Classification of Evidence:This study provides Class IV evidence of associations between FLAIR white matter hyperintensities, and neuropathological changes (white matter rarefaction, arteriolosclerosis, p-tau accumulation), years of American football play, and reported cognitive symptoms in symptomatic brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts.

scholarly journals Development of an Eco-Friendly Head Impact Protection Device

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2492
Author(s):  
Miguel M. Varela ◽  
Fábio A.O. Fernandes ◽  
Ricardo J. Alves de Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injuries ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Cellular Material ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Protection Device ◽  
Contact Sports ◽  
Impact Protection ◽  
Impact Energies

Nowadays, the number of people practising contact sports has increased. In many of them, using head protective equipment is not mandatory, even if the use of headbands could increase the level of safety regarding several types of traumatic brain injuries. Many commercial solutions are currently available, based on plastic-based foams providing a decent level of protection and comfort to the user. This work introduces the use of agglomerated cork as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic foams but at least keeping safety levels. Cork is a natural cellular material that has been showing excellent crashworthiness properties. In this study, cork agglomerate density is carefully chosen to be incorporated into a protective headband. Results are compared against three other commercial headbands. For each one, the risk of brain injury was analysed for different injury thresholds and impact energies. The results clearly demonstrate that the cork-based apparel may provide comparable, and in some cases, better performances, outlasting the commercial ones.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPETITIVE HEAD IMPACT EXPOSURE AND CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. P1469-P1470
Author(s):  
Jesse Mez ◽  
Daniel H. Daneshvar ◽  
Bobak Abdolmohammadi ◽  
Patrick T. Kiernan ◽  
Michael L. Alosco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Similar head impact acceleration measured using instrumented ear patches in a junior rugby union team during matches in comparison with other sports

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug A. King ◽  
Patria A. Hume ◽  
Conor Gissane ◽  
Trevor N. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Impact Acceleration ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rugby Players

OBJECTIVE Direct impact with the head and the inertial loading of the head have been postulated as major mechanisms of head-related injuries, such as concussion. METHODS This descriptive observational study was conducted to quantify the head impact acceleration characteristics in under-9-year-old junior rugby union players in New Zealand. The impact magnitude, frequency, and location were collected with a wireless head impact sensor that was worn by 14 junior rugby players who participated in 4 matches. RESULTS A total of 721 impacts > 10g were recorded. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of impacts per player was 46 (IQR 37–58), resulting in 10 (IQR 4–18) impacts to the head per player per match. The median impact magnitudes recorded were 15g (IQR 12g–21g) for linear acceleration and 2296 rad/sec2 (IQR 1352–4152 rad/sec2) for rotational acceleration. CONCLUSIONS There were 121 impacts (16.8%) above the rotational injury risk limit and 1 (0.1%) impact above the linear injury risk limit. The acceleration magnitude and number of head impacts in junior rugby union players were higher than those previously reported in similar age-group sports participants. The median linear acceleration for the under-9-year-old rugby players were similar to 7- to 8-year-old American football players, but lower than 9- to 12-year-old youth American football players. The median rotational accelerations measured were higher than the median and 95th percentiles in youth, high school, and collegiate American football players.

scholarly journals Impact test comparisons of 20th and 21st century American football helmets

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Bartsch ◽  
Edward Benzel ◽  
Vincent Miele ◽  
Vikas Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Head Injury ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Diffuse Axonal Injury ◽  
Angular Acceleration ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Acute Subdural Hematoma

Object Concussion is the signature American football injury of the 21st century. Modern varsity helmets, as compared with vintage leather helmets, or “leatherheads,” are widely believed to universally improve protection by reducing head impact doses and head injury risk for the 3 million young football players in the US. The object of this study was to compare the head impact doses and injury risks with 11 widely used 21st century varsity helmets and 2 early 20th century leatherheads and to hypothesize what the results might mean for children wearing similar varsity helmets. Methods In an injury biomechanics laboratory, the authors conducted front, oblique front, lateral, oblique rear, and rear head impact tests at 5.0 m/second using helmeted headforms, inducing near- and subconcussive head impact doses on par with approximately the 95th percentile of on-field collision severity. They also calculated impact dose injury risk parameters common to laboratory and on-field traumatic neuromechanics: linear acceleration, angular acceleration, angular velocity, Gadd Severity Index, diffuse axonal injury, acute subdural hematoma, and brain contusion. Results In many instances the head impact doses and head injury risks while wearing vintage leatherheads were comparable to or better than those while wearing several widely used 21st century varsity helmets. Conclusions The authors do not advocate reverting to leather headgear, but they do strongly recommend, especially for young players, instituting helmet safety designs and testing standards, which encourage the minimization of linear and angular impact doses and injury risks in near- and subconcussive head impacts.

scholarly journals American Football Helmet for Preventing Concussion, a Literature Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 3796-3803 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Saeed Ahmadisoleymani ◽  
James Yang
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Helmet

Repetitive impact exposure and characterization of stress-whitening of an American football helmet outer shell material

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 190-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.E. Krzeminski ◽  
B.M.D. Fernando ◽  
G. Curtzwiler ◽  
T.E. Gould ◽  
S.G. Piland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Shell ◽  
American Football ◽  
Shell Material ◽  
Football Helmet ◽  
Repetitive Impact ◽  
Stress Whitening

scholarly journals Effects of Solvent Exposure on Material Properties and Impact Performance of an American Football Helmet Outer Shell Material

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Krzeminski ◽  
Dilhan Fernando ◽  
James Rawlins ◽  
Trenton Gould ◽  
Scott Piland
Keyword(s):  
Material Properties ◽  
Outer Shell ◽  
American Football ◽  
Shell Material ◽  
Solvent Exposure ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Football Helmet

Head impact exposure and time to recovery in youth american football players diagnosed with a concussion

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. A16.2-A16
Author(s):  
Verle D Valentine ◽  
Jason C Dorman ◽  
Thayne A Munce
Keyword(s):  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players

scholarly journals Protective Equipment

Concussion ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 173-176
Author(s):  
Brian Hainline ◽  
Lindsey J. Gurin ◽  
Daniel M. Torres
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Skull Fractures ◽  
Football Helmets ◽  
Athletic Equipment ◽  
Concussive Injury

Helmets are designed to prevent catastrophic brain injury such as skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage. Helmets do not prevent concussion, and are sometimes used as a weapon that may actually lead to a concussive injury. Football helmets are certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), and the National Football League has also developed criteria for evaluating football helmets independent of NOCSAE. To mitigate concussion and repetitive head impact exposure, the head needs to be taken out of the game, irrespective of the use of helmets.

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