Concussion and football helmet design

1. Robert Berghorn
PE 589-Physical Education and Exercise
Science Capstone
(Dr. Cynthia Tanis)

2. Purpose
Investigating the design of football helmets and
their influence on concussions
Research Questions
 How does the design of a football
helmet reduce the number of
concussions occurring on the field?
 Which technological advances in
helmet safety will help prevent
concussions?
 How does the 5-STAR helmet
rating system influence which
helmet a player wears on the field?

3.  Make things better for those around me
 Love of football, and helmets, led to research topic
 Make the game safer for those who play
 Desire to seek new answers
 Current technological advances should protect brains
of athletes
 Share findings with parents and players
 Hope informed decisions about helmet selection are
made in the future.

4.  Purpose- record linear
and angular head
acceleration to
determine concussion
threshold
 Procedure- Data was
collected from head
impacts during games
and practices
 Participants- Ten 2007
Virginia Tech football
players
 Method- 6DOF
measuring device
recorded impacts
exceeding 10 g forces
 Results- 1712 impacts 11
impacts exceeded
threshold
 Zero concussions
 Beneficial for quickly
notifying sideline
medical staff to check
affected player

5. External foam layers to
football helmets reduce head
impact severity
Purpose: Examine impact
force of helmets with
protective exterior
padding.
 Multiple impact tests
with helmeted
mannequins.
 Data collected using
accelerometers.
 Severity of impact
decreased with exterior
padding applied.
 Research is useful as it
suggests players will be
better protected from
concussive forces when
extra layers of
protection lesson
impact forces.

6.  Purpose- Compare concussion
severity and symptom duration
with how helmets fit
 Procedure- Athletic trainers
compiled data 2005-13
 Participants High school football
players participated
 methods 100 NATA affiliated
schools provided concussion data
over a 9 year span
 Results More concussion
symptoms are present with poorly
fitted helmets
 Application Important for players
to wear properly fitted helmets

7.  Mixed method study;
quantitative/qualitative
 Participants- So. Calif.
H.S. football program
 Answered survey
questions
 (11) Demographic
questions
 (12) Likert scale
statements
 (4) Open-ended
questions

8.  43 players (15 Varsity
/28 Freshman)
Reduce Concussions with:
tight chinstrap, soft
shell & more padding,
pneumatic padding,
bendable struts, &
memory foam
 Not likely to help:
padding outside,
flexible mask
 Technological advances:
Impact sensors will help
prevent concussions but
do not accurately record
head impacts
 5-STAR rating system
used by coaches and
admin to purchase
helmets

9.  Inadequate testing by
NOCSAE years ago
 Traumatic Brain Injury
incidents called for new
testing procedures
 Rotational acceleration
testing and finding ways to
slow down head
acceleration
 Beneficial additions to
helmets: exterior padding
and flexible facemasks
 Impact sensors need
improvements
 Better advertising for
Virginia Tech helmet
rating system

10.  Be aware of recent
safety studies
 Virginia Tech’s helmet
research project
accepts no funding
from helmet
manufacturers
 More testing is
needed in the area of
rotational acceleration
 New helmet VICIS
Zero1…coming soon

11.  Photos retrieved from:
 SLIDE 1
 http://www.giannahomes.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/05/psc0216_nx_decoded_0-844x475.jpg
 http://www.riddell.com/media/catalog/product/r/i/riddell-speedflex-
adult-quarter_3.png
 SLIDE 5
 https://headneckandspineinstitute.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/duh.jp
eg
 SLIDE 6
 https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2016/07/070516-ictas-
duma.html
 SLIDE 10
 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/01/12/18/301858160000
0578-3396001-image-a-24_1452622686042.jpg