Impact attenuation capabilities of football and lacrosse helmets

Breedlove, Katherine M.; Breedlove, Evan L.; Bowman, Thomas G.; Nauman, Eric A.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.06.030

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…[13][14][15][16] In this crossover study, each of the 3 helmets was tested with and without the Guardian Caps at each of the 6 drop locations. We based our sample size on power analyses using 2 previously published studies 17,18 with similar data, which indicated that 3 helmets per group would be sensitive to differences in impact attenuation (a ¼ .05 and 1-b ¼ 0.80). The experimental design for the Riddell Speed helmets (Riddell Sports, Elyria, OH) is seen in Figure 3.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ability of an Aftermarket Helmet Add-On Device to Reduce Impact-Force Accelerations During Drop Tests

Breedlove

Nauman

et al. 2017

Journal of Athletic Training

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Context: The Guardian Cap provides a soft covering intended to mitigate energy transfer to the head during football contact. Yet how well it attenuates impacts remains unknown. Objective: To evaluate the changes in the Gadd Severity Index (GSI) and linear acceleration during drop tests on helmeted headforms with or without Guardian Caps. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Nine new football helmets sent directly from the manufacturer. Intervention(s): We dropped the helmets at 3 velocities on 6 helmet locations (front, side, right front boss, top, rear right boss, and rear) as prescribed by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. Helmets were tested with facemasks in place but no Guardian Cap and then retested with the facemasks in place and the Guardian Cap affixed. Main Outcome Measure(s): The GSI scores and linear accelerations measured in g forces. Results: For the GSI, we found a significant interaction among drop location, Guardian Cap presence, and helmet brand at the high velocity (F10,50 = 3.01, P = .005) but not at the low (F3.23,16.15 = 0.84, P = .50) or medium (F10,50 = 1.29, P = .26) velocities. Similarly for linear accelerations, we found a significant interaction among drop location, Guardian Cap presence, and helmet brand at the high velocity (F10,50 = 3.01, P = .002, ω2 = 0.05) but not at the low (F10,50 = 0.49, P = .89, ω2 < 0.01, 1–β = 0.16) or medium (F5.20,26.01 = 2.43, P = .06, ω2 < 0.01, 1–β = 0.68) velocities. Conclusions: The Guardian Cap failed to significantly improve the helmets' ability to mitigate impact forces at most locations. Limited evidence indicates how a reduction in GSI would provide clinically relevant benefits beyond reducing the risk of skull fracture or a similar catastrophic event.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ability of an Aftermarket Helmet Add-On Device to Reduce Impact-Force Accelerations During Drop Tests

Breedlove

Nauman

et al. 2017

Journal of Athletic Training

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“…Previous research focused on the use of the NOCSAE standard drop test as the primary means of testing. While limited, it was used to demonstrate that football helmets dramatically outperform lacrosse helmets in the laboratory 20 and that aftermarket impact attenuation systems such as the Guardian cap provide limited decreases in the severity index. 21 In addition, Cournoyer et al 22 determined that energy absorption in football helmets changes statistically significantly after 90–100 impacts, but the effect size was not sufficient to warrant helmet replacement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative evaluation of impact attenuation by football helmets using a modal impulse hammer

Cummiskey

Sankaran

McIver

et al. 2019

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P:

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Concussions and changes in neurophysiology due to sub-concussive blows are common in contact sports, motivating a need for improved safety systems. While there have been attempts to determine whether or not new helmet designs influence the incidence of concussion, the results to date have been inconclusive. Consequently, the goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of modern football helmets to mitigate linear impacts directed normal, as well as oblique, to the surface of the helmeted head using a system that quantifies both the input load and the resulting accelerations of a Hybrid III headform. The transfer function connecting the inputs and outputs of the system was developed using dimensional analysis to provide a means of comparing helmets across brands and sports. For translational accelerations, increased helmet mass and a secondary layer of padding helped mitigate the impacts. The attenuation of angular accelerations depended substantially on helmet model and impact location.

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“…), did not include laboratory impact data, did not characterize football-specific head impact conditions, or analyzed previously collected datasets (review articles, part of research anthology, etc.). This filtering process resulted in 35 journal articles 2–8,10,11,13–37 that met the review criteria, which are included in the data presented in this review article.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of laboratory methods and results used to evaluate protective headgear in American football

Bina

Batt

DesJardins

2018

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P:

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As head trauma becomes more firmly associated with American football, research has focused on improving the impact performance of protective headgear. Since helmet use became mandatory in 1939-1940, both helmet design and laboratory methods used to evaluate helmet impact performance have evolved. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, this article analyzes the impact results from laboratory evaluations of helmet performance, including a look at the evolution of protective headgear performance in football. In total, 35 separate studies conducted between 1975 and 2017 were used to examine current testing methodologies and reported impact results from headgear performance laboratory assessments. This review showed that the evolution in helmet design over the last 50 years has resulted in a decrease in linear and rotational acceleration of an impacted headform. The most common laboratory methods used to reconstruct football-specific head impacts included (1) linear drop methods, (2) pendulum methods, and (3) pneumatic ram methods. Each method provided greater understanding of helmet impact performance, helmet design, and use in football, with each method having specific limitations in the evaluation of protective headgear performance.

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Impact attenuation capabilities of football and lacrosse helmets

Cited by 23 publications

References 24 publications

The Ability of an Aftermarket Helmet Add-On Device to Reduce Impact-Force Accelerations During Drop Tests

The Ability of an Aftermarket Helmet Add-On Device to Reduce Impact-Force Accelerations During Drop Tests

Quantitative evaluation of impact attenuation by football helmets using a modal impulse hammer

A review of laboratory methods and results used to evaluate protective headgear in American football

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