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Concussions: More than a Headache

Helmets for head protection are standard equipment in sports such as baseball, football, auto racing, hockey, and ski jumping; and are routinely used in sports such as cycling, motorcycling, skateboarding, snowboarding, and skiing. It can be a challenge, however, to provide athletes with proper protection from head injuries. Helmet manufacturers, school budgets, and changes in athleticism are obstacles to athlete safety that are not always avoided. Over the past several years the media has highlighted the growing number of athletes at all levels who have had concussions from their participation in a sport. Football has received special attention from the media about head injuries, concussions, and force of impact regulations. 

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Reports indicate that the number of concussions continues to increase each year. Over 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions, and over 300,000 loss-of-consciousness concussions, occur each year in the US. 

Sports equipment design has improved by way of advances in science and product innovations over the past 20 years.  Innovation has led to a proliferation of helmet designs, which has resulted in a flood of standards and guidelines. The industry is cluttered with regulations for design and testing to the point of becoming confusing and of questionable value to the end user.

Despite the availability of helmet options, many schools and community sports programs continue to use older helmets that have been refurbished under little oversight and minimal standards. School budgets are under tremendous pressure, and make it a priority to find the lowest-cost method of acquiring sports equipment. Many times, this explains the continued use of refurbished helmets.

In addition to the challenges in equipment availability, today’s athletes are bigger, stronger and faster than ever. Football players today face collisions of significantly greater force than in the past.