Unequal's Gyro helmet liner the latest in military-grade football protection - Edge - SI.com

 

From the battlefield to the gridiron.

Sure sounds like it. Wonder how much the technology costs to place in one helmet? It was never mentioned that it was cheap and cost effective and a high school football team in Texas had to raise money to get it for all their players and team budgets down there are typically much higher than they are here.

Sure sounds like it. Wonder how much the technology costs to place in one helmet? It was never mentioned that it was cheap and cost effective and a high school football team in Texas had to raise money to get it for all their players and team budgets down there are typically much higher than they are here.

 

"The quarter-inch thick liner, which sells for $60, is made of a military grade composite -- strengthened by Kevlar and Accelleron -- "

They should just make some type of foam helmet.

Over the next five years we will see a hundred different "Sure-Fire Concussion Stoppers" just like we did in the early 90's. They will be the "Next Big Thing" and will make money and then go the way of the "Water Helmet", the "Concussion Dome" and the "Exterior Shell".

 

The impact is not what causes the concussion, the sudden stop is what causes the concussion. That's why you see so many concussions from the fall to the ground, the ground is unforgiving.

Isn't some new science saying that they worry that with all the attention on concussions that the dangers of repetitive hits which also cause as much damage being overlooked?

Ugh

Over the next five years we will see a hundred different "Sure-Fire Concussion Stoppers" just like we did in the early 90's. They will be the "Next Big Thing" and will make money and then go the way of the "Water Helmet", the "Concussion Dome" and the "Exterior Shell".

 

The impact is not what causes the concussion, the sudden stop is what causes the concussion. That's why you see so many concussions from the fall to the ground, the ground is unforgiving.

 

Yep. No helmet can prevent the secondary collision of the brain within the skull as a result of the sudden stop. No matter how hard the shell. Or how soft or cushiony the material is inside the helmet, that sudden stop still occurs and concussions will happen.

I picked up Madden15 for our xbox one. Hit myself in the head with it trying to get it out of the security wrap.

Football is dangerous no matter what you do!

Ugh

 

Yep. No helmet can prevent the secondary collision of the brain within the skull as a result of the sudden stop. No matter how hard the shell. Or how soft or cushiony the material is inside the helmet, that sudden stop still occurs and concussions will happen.

I believe the goal of the soft or cushiony material is to slow the deceleration to make the stop not as sudden.

I believe the goal of the soft or cushiony material is to slow the deceleration to make the stop not as sudden.

 

Which is, unfortunately, not really possible. This is physics at it's finest. Unless the brain is placed in situation where speed and acceleration are no longer existent, then the brain continues to travel at the same speed the head is traveling until it meets a force that brings it to stop (skull). That's why helmet technology is great and can help, but can't prevent. As Ram said earlier, the tough part is the head in contact with the ground. The worst concussions I've seen are head to ground contact, not nearly as often with helmet to helmet. You just don't see the velocity issues with head to head as you do head to ground. The whole immoveable object part of the equation. But I am in favor of any resource that helps in recovery and prevention.

I believe the goal of the soft or cushiony material is to slow the deceleration to make the stop not as sudden.

That is the marketing tactic, but the science if flawed. A forth inch liner is going to slow the deceleration more then the two inches of padding already in the helmet? No, it's a money grab.

Which is, unfortunately, not really possible. This is physics at it's finest. Unless the brain is placed in situation where speed and acceleration are no longer existent, then the brain continues to travel at the same speed the head is traveling until it meets a force that brings it to stop (skull). That's why helmet technology is great and can help, but can't prevent. As Ram said earlier, the tough part is the head in contact with the ground. The worst concussions I've seen are head to ground contact, not nearly as often with helmet to helmet. You just don't see the velocity issues with head to head as you do head to ground. The whole immoveable object part of the equation. But I am in favor of any resource that helps in recovery and prevention.

Great explanation. To affectively slow deceleration of the brain and to prevent it from coming in contact with the inside of the skull, you would have to place a pad inside the skull, not outside the head.

 

And I agree, the vast majority of concussions I have ever seen have been from the player landing on his back and the head whipping forward then suddenly backwards striking the ground at much greater force then the opposing player striking the player to cause the fall to the ground.

Which is, unfortunately, not really possible. This is physics at it's finest. Unless the brain is placed in situation where speed and acceleration are no longer existent, then the brain continues to travel at the same speed the head is traveling until it meets a force that brings it to stop (skull). That's why helmet technology is great and can help, but can't prevent. As Ram said earlier, the tough part is the head in contact with the ground. The worst concussions I've seen are head to ground contact, not nearly as often with helmet to helmet. You just don't see the velocity issues with head to head as you do head to ground. The whole immoveable object part of the equation. But I am in favor of any resource that helps in recovery and prevention.

The goal is to slow the head down inside the helmet before it stops.

I have no idea if this product works or not but at least some people are trying. There is also a newer helmet out their made by Simpson, the same guy that made fire suits and all the racing safety equipment.

I think the area that is proving to be the most helpful is the education. Having standardized procedures in place on dealing with concussions benefits everyone.

The goal is to slow the head down inside the helmet before it stops.

I have no idea if this product works or not but at least some people are trying. There is also a newer helmet out their made by Simpson, the same guy that made fire suits and all the racing safety equipment.

 

The technology that is proposed doesn't and cannot do that. Think about it. You talking about something that's on a swivel, moving 9.8 m/second squared, and hitting an object that does not move. To slow the head down from the time the helmet makes contact with the ground is the equivalent of pulling your parachute 50 feet before you hit the ground. It's just not going to make a big difference. I think we can improve helmets, but preventing concussions just isn't possible unless we place kids heads in some type of gyroscope where gravity is used against itself. I do also believe, and discussion with the KMA and the KHSAA, is the over diagnosis of concussions to kids who don't have a concussion. Better education is a must in the medical field as well as at home.