Why Are Helmets Important in Contact Sports?
Every year, millions of athletes in the United States experience concussions which are mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s). With athletes at all levels of play getting bigger, faster and stronger, it is all the more important that the risk and severity of potential traumatic brain injury (TBI) be reduced.
The use of helmets is part of that equation. Helmets have to be periodically changed.. Likewise, one kind of helmet is not suitable for all kinds of sports, nor is one size of helmet suitable for all individuals. We will discuss those issues in subsequent articles.
Many symptoms of concussions are transient. However, there are other ways in which they can be lasting and require long-term, post-acute rehabilitation. Some can be similar to other, more severe kinds of traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) in the following ways:
- Memory impairment
- Post-concussion syndrome (especially when there has been inadequate or improper acute care)
- Physical symptoms
- Emotional problems
- Behavioral problems
- Second impact syndrome, which can occur when a subsequent impact occurs before the first has fully resolved1.
Concussions can occur in contact sports because the brain floats within the skull within the cerebrospinal fluid. It moves at a different rate than the skull in response to a collision. This can result in a collision between the brain and skull, either on the side of the impact, (called a coup), or opposite the impact, (called a contrecoup). In turn, the high speed deceleration associated with the traumatic impacts may also result in stretching of the long axons at the base of the brain, resulting in diffuse axonal injury. Depending on the extent of those injuries, neurologic dysfunction can occur2.
Helmets decrease the potential for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) following an athletic impact by reducing the acceleration of the head upon impact. It decreases brain-skull collisions and the deceleration that can cause axonal injury. The helmet accomplishes this by compressing to absorb force during the collision and slowly restoring to its original shape. This prolongs the duration of the collision while reducing the total momentum transferred to the head.
Helmets help, but they are not foolproof. Mild and traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) still occur in contact sports. When they do, acute care is always needed. Thereafter, innovative post-acute care like that provided by the multi-disciplinary team at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida frequently is also needed. NeuLife Rehab provides to its Clients an independent functional evaluation and with a team that may include:
- Board Certified Neurologist
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- Board Certified Physiatrist
- Neuropsychologist
- Psychologist
- Board Certified Psychiatrist
- Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Nurses
- Certified Rehab Counselor
Athletic excellence is your passion. Your rehabilitation is our’s.
Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” — the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.
NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best achieved in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourages, assists and supports each client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to achieve function and independence.
NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.
2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757
