Introduction to Guardian Caps
So with the NFL season underway, you might have seen a strange helmet cover out on the field worn by some football players. This reinforcement, named a Guardian Cap, is a pad of foam placed over the helmet shell. It is meant to ease the risk of brain injuries by adding more padding. NFL players have been using these caps during summer practice for a few years, but this is the first season they are allowed to wear them in games. A few players used them during the opening weekend.
Effectiveness of Guardian Caps
Guardian Sports, the company behind these caps, says they reduce the impact force when a player’s head is hit. But what does that really mean? And can they actually help prevent concussions? According to Guardian founder and owner, Erin Hanson, a study conducted by the NFL revealed that a pronounced decline in concussions occurred when players practiced with Guardian helmet caps. Findings showed that the number of concussions was reduced by over 50 percent.
Limitations and Disclaimers
It’s worth noting that as far back as 2016, Guardian Sports had added a disclaimer to its website, explaining in part: “No helmet system can protect you from serious brain and/or neck injuries including paralysis or death. Researchers have not yet reached a consensus on how impact absorption tests correlate with concussion prevention.” In a phone interview, Hanson stressed that it’s unrealistic to expect the cap to prevent all concussions. “Football is a dangerous collision sport,” she explained. “There’s no doubt about it.”
Skepticism from Brain Trauma Experts
I reached out to brain trauma experts for their take on the helmet caps. What level of protection can players realistically expect from wearing them? Today’s newsletter explores how the added padding might help with concussions and C.T.E., the long-term condition that affects many players later in life. Unless you want an all-purpose helmet cap, experts warn that they can’t be counted on for anything that would protect the wearer from a concussion. Unfortunately, explained Dr. Jamshid Ghajar, a neurosurgeon and president of the Brain Trauma Foundation, head injuries are not properly categorized as brain injuries. In terms of TBIs helmets can help to prevent fractures, skull or scalp injuries, but they have no effect at all on concussions.
Understanding Concussions and Neck Movement
Neck rotates and flexes after head hit ===> concussions. That was on full display Thursday when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left his entire body vulnerable for such a shot that resulted in a concussion when his head snapped back awkwardly. “The neck is very flexible,” Dr. Ghajar said. “Its movement is what causes brain injuries, leading to whiplash in the front part of the brain.” He also noted that “the front of the brain is where we see concussions and severe brain injuries.”
Comparison with Race-Car Helmets
Dr. Ghajar noted that race-car drivers wear helmets that effectively protect them from concussions by keeping the neck rigid during collisions and preventing movement. “Drivers have survived crashes at over 200 miles per hour without brain injuries,” he said. Helmets and padding are effective if you have a very stiff neck.
Study Findings and Reactions
Regarding the NFL study that Hanson mentioned, which showed a 50 percent reduction in concussions, Dr. Javier Cardenas, a senior medical adviser for the NFL, described the findings as a “pleasant surprise.” He noted that the reduction was observed for two consecutive years, leading him to believe that the caps “definitely” lower the risk of concussions.
Criticisms and Limitations of the Study
Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, a concussion expert at Massachusetts General Hospital, remains skeptical. He pointed out that the NFL’s study relied on players reporting their own symptoms, which makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. He also explained that players might not always recognize or might ignore concussion symptoms. Furthermore, if they believe the new helmet caps are protecting them, they might be less likely to report a concussion.
Reducing the Risk of C.T.E.
C.T.E., or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a condition that concerns many football players. It can lead to memory loss and behavioral changes years after the impacts. This condition arises not only from major hits that cause concussions but also from the accumulation of smaller, repeated blows to the head that players endure throughout their careers. The additional padding from helmet caps could potentially help reduce the risk of C.T.E. “Anything that decreases the force to the head can lower the risk of C.T.E.,” Dr. Daneshvar explained.
Player Perspectives and Research Defense
Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson has made a bold choice for the whole season and is now officially declaring he will wear a helmet cap the entire year. Granson said this in an Instagram video, per Dan Duggan, and well just thought you should know to borrow a favorite phrase. I am getting married this year and I want my first dance to be memorable 30 years from now.
The NFL has cited a lab study indicating that Guardian caps reduced impact force by 10 percent. Dr. Daneshvar acknowledged that this reduction would likely decrease the risk of C.T.E. However, he also cautioned that the study involved dummies with rigid necks, which created ideal conditions to maximize the effect. A spokeswoman for the NFL defended the research, stating that it used modern, biofidelic dummies designed to more accurately reflect human biology. Dr. Daneshvar likened the situation to a filtered cigarette: “It absolutely decreases the rate of cancer, and it might be a step in the right direction, but it’s not the entire solution.”
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