A 2000 study published in the "American Journal of Sports Medicine" suggests that 15 percent of high school football players experience concussions. This number likely would be higher if players lacked the protective shield of their helmets. Depending on the gear's manufacturer, football helmets provide varying degrees of protection.
Danger on the Field
Tackles that occur on the football field can be quite damaging. In a Virginia Tech University study in which sensors were installed in helmets, players were recorded to receive impacts measuring between 100g and 150g in which "g" is a unit of force used to measure earth's gravity and is equal to 9.81 m s'2). With no protection, players would become more susceptible to severe head injuries. Football helmets have been used since the 1890s. However it wasn't until the 1960s that the use of interior foam padding was introduced.
Protective Helmet Padding
To protect athletes from injuries, football helmets are commonly designed with visco elastic foam, also known as NASA memory foam. Visco foam is an extremely absorbent material capable of rebounding after impact. Initially invented by NASA to protect astronauts during flight, its use was soon adopted as protective gear because of its identified benefits. Helmets with interior padding are capable of withstanding pressure caused by a player running into a hard surface at 12 mph.
Helmet Padding Severity Index
Although the use of protective foam is fairly common with football helmets, the actual value of how they can withstand impact varies by brand. Before they can be certified and approved, football helmets should score nothing more than 1,200 on the severity index, as measured by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. At this point, a helmet is capable of preventing a skull from cracking. However, there are models with even better protection ratings. For instance, football helmets with a severity index of less than 300 can absorb enough pressure to prevent a concussion.
Alternative Designs
As of publication, designs were being considered as possible replacements to football foam padding. For instance, the Xenith X1Helmet features 18 shock absorber comprised of hollow discs that are used instead of the traditional helmet foam. These shock absorbers are embedded in a flexible cap that is installed into the helmet. Early testing results suggest that this arrangement makes the new football helmet adapt better to impact.
References
- Technology Review: Preventing Concussions
- University of Washington: Survey Tackles Football Concussions
- NAERA: How are Football Helmets Tested?
- "The New York Times"; Helmet Design Absorbs Shock in a New Way; Alan Schwarz; Oct. 27, 2007
- ESPN; Helmet Tech Aimed at Concussions; Patrick Dorsey; Sept. 1, 2009
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