Watch Your Head!

How new data reinforces concussion worries.

A study commissioned by the NFL and the U.S. Congress last year to evaluate helmets used in professional football was quashed, but some data from it has recently been released. The original study was considered inconclusive and flawed; however, the results that have been released by the NFL and the player’s union show that even the best helmets used do not prevent concussion.

The significance of repeated concussions, as experienced by boxers and football players alike, is under dispute. But no one argues there aren’t long-term consequences, but how serious are they?

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Neuropathologist at Pittsburgh University recently examined brain tissue from four former NFL players (all died between 36 and 50 years of age) and determined that repeated concussion contributed to their early deaths. Dr. Omalu told USA Today that each player reported experiencing what were likely a number of concussions during their playing careers, which later led to chronic traumatic encephalopathy--a condition common in boxers--and then extreme bouts of depression. Commenting on the brain tissue he examined, Dr. Omalu said, “On the cellular level, it looks absolutely abnormal.”

Concussion and brain injury happens when the head is rapidly decelerated. A sudden stop or jolt in any direction can cause the brain to literally bounce inside the skull. Damage can occur when the brain hits the skull wall.

Who is watching the shop?

As the public becomes aware of concussion risks in sports activities, concerns arise about who is responsible to make sure helmets in use are up to the task. One likely candidate, the Montana Food and Consumer Consumer Safety Section (of the Dept. of Public Health) only looks at complaints. They do not test helmets directly.

The U.S. Department of Transportation does impose standards on motorcycle helmets, but these generally do not apply to sporting activities. Montana motorcycle helmet information can be found here (pg 5).

Little league uses information from the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) as their guide. NOCSAE recognizes the dangers of head injury in athletes and certifies equipment for many sports. The NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations both require NOCSAE certified helmets.

The problem remains however. In football, the way the game is played – using the head as a ‘weapon’ – continues to cause concussions, both minor and severe. On their website, the NOCSAE outlines the problem as: ”…how to protect a large, fast football player who might possess kinetic energy approaching 3,000 foot pounds and to provide such an athlete with equipment that was both protective and comfortable.”

NOCSAE has been successful in reducing acute injuries and death from head on collisions in football. Unfortunately, the problem of concussion remains. With this latest NFL report, where even the best helmets did not prevent concussion, it seems the issue needs to be reexamined.

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