Can helmet design reduce the risk of concussion in football?

• DOI: 10.3171/2014.1.jns13916
• Publication Date: 2014-01-31T15:05:53Z
• Authors: Steven Rowson; Stefan M. Duma; Richard M. Greenwald; Jonathan G. Beckwith; Jeffrey J. Chu; Kevin M. Guskiewicz; Jason P. Mihalik; Joseph J. Crisco; Bethany J. Wilcox; Thomas W. McAllister; Arthur C. Maerlender; Steven P. Broglio; Brock Schnebel; Scott Anderson; P. Gunnar Brolinson
• Keywords: American football; Football players

Of all sports, football accounts for the highest incidence of concussion in US due to large number athletes participating and nature sport. While there is general agreement that can be reduced through rule changes teaching proper tackling technique, remains debate as whether helmet design may also reduce concussion. A retrospective analysis was performed head impact data collected from 1833 collegiate players who were instrumented with helmet-mounted accelerometer arrays games practices. Data between 2005 2010 8 teams: Virginia Tech, University North Carolina, Oklahoma, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Minnesota, Indiana Illinois. Concussion rates compared wearing Riddell VSR4 Revolution helmets while controlling exposure each player. total 1,281,444 impacts recorded, which 64 concussions diagnosed. The relative risk sustaining a 46.1% (95% CI 28.1%–75.8%). When player's impact, significant difference found (χ 2 = 4.68, p 0.0305). This study illustrates differences ability exist models football. Although never prevent occurring football, evidence it this injury.