Concussions? Check Your Headgear
by DarrenM on Oct 8, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
10 comments
It's October, and you know what's really hot this time of year? Concussions. Looking at the Sens, Ryan Shannon is out with what is believed to be a concussion, and Anton Volchenkov almost certainly gave one to Viktor Stalberg on Tuesday night. Jared Boll of the Blue Jackets, Derek Boogaard and Pierre-Marc Bouchard of the Wild, James Van Riemsdyk of the Philadelphia Flyers and Andreas Lilja of the Red Wings are just some of the other names currently sidelined with head injuries - and the season has only just begun.
I'm not going to lecture you too much about the seriousness of concussions - I'll leave that to the doctors and scientists who know far more about the topic. Also, I'm not going to get into the hits that cause them, because James Mirtle had a good, concise piece yesterday on hits that cause concussions. What I will say is that I'm blown away that despite around 7-12% of NHL players getting a concussion every season, and over 750 concussions having been recorded in the NHL since 1997, players aren't taking a very simple step to prevent this from happening to them: wearing a helmet designed to address this problem.
You possibly read on other websites about the M11 helmet that Mark Messier is promoting, or perhaps you heard him talking about it at great lengths during the Senators/Rangers game Saturday. According to Moose's most recent blog, only eleven NHL players are wearing this helmet (including two Senators: Chris Phillips, Jesse Winchester)
So, let's think this through: the odds of getting a concussion in today's NHL are dangerously high, and concussions have been known to ultimately end someone's career (not to mention the grave long-term effects they can have on other aspects of your life outside of sports). Furthermore, important players to a franchise can miss key games because of this, meaning its in the interest of coaches, GMs, and teammates that players are wearing the M11. And yet only eleven players are willing to wear a helmet that could be the difference? Is Don Cherry making fun of players who wear it, like he does for guys wearing visors? There's really no excuse to not be wearing one of these helmets - and I don't want to hear anyone say "Well, maybe they're uncomfortable." Yeah? So are seatbelts, but you're an idiot for not wearing those, too.
There's nothing macho about players who opt not to wear something that could save their careers, or even their lives. Coaches should be encouraging every player in the lineup to put on this helmet for the benefit of their franchise, and players should be sporting it for the sake of their career, their teammates, and most importantly - themselves and their families.
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You've got to wonder.
Although it’s interesting that two Senators are wearing them (and Christoph Schubert, too). I don’t think any other team has more than one player wearing it.
by PeterR on Oct 8, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
concussions
There is a fundamentally flawed mentality that helmets can prevent concussions. Its not that helmets don’t have benefits, they do, but how does a helmet prevent your brain from moving inside of your head when it makes contact with an object? How does a helmet reduce the impact of a hit that shakes your head even if the blow isn’t to your head. Sadly the manufacturers of this helmet and other helmets use data of increased concussion data to sell their product. There is not one single study that shows a helmet prevents or reduces the risk of concussion. What Mark Messier and all other helmet companies are doing is manipulating data to make a buck. If they sincerely believe that the helmet reduces concussions or prevents them they are not very bright. And if I am wrong I would like to see some data that proves this claim that the M11 makes.
The only true way of reducing concussions is to remove fighting from the game, have officials enforce the rules more strictly, especially those that relate to head shots and boarding. Also children at a young age need to be taught how to properly avoid hits or how to properly take a hit. Not simply put on a helmet.
by stickboy on Oct 8, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Concussions are caused by Newton’s First Law of Motion right?. The brain continues to move at one speed, and the skull suddenly stops moving, causing the brain to impact against the inside of the skull.
So then it stands to reason that if the skull’s stop is rendered less sudden, the impact of the brain against it would be lessened as well, right? That’s the concept behind air bags, and this is why you move your hands so an egg does break during an egg toss — you absorb the energy in the motion of the egg, lessening the impact of the egg against your hands, preventing the egg from breaking.
This means that if a helmet were designed to absorb the energy the skull hitting against it, by extension, the force with which the brain hit the inside of the skull would be lessened, thus, presumably, reducing the risk of concussion. I’m not sure that the M11 helmet does this, but it seems to me based on the laws of physics, a helmet could be designed that helps reduce concussions.
How does a helmet reduce the impact of a hit that shakes your head even if the blow isn’t to your head.
In this aspect, I’d have to agree with you. I don’t know how a helmet would be useful in concussion prevention for those hits, but I think most concussions are caused by the head hitting the boards or the ice, and not the whiplash of the neck.
by Mark Parisi on Oct 8, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly. I know that this helmet won’t stop all concussions, because that’s impossible. But if you look at the technology behind it (which you can do on the website), it definitely is a far better solution than just using foam like they do now. The M11 absorbs the impact, just like Mark suggested it would have to.
And Stickboy – you’re absolutely right about rule changes, and education. Those are far more important and will have far greater results than strapping on this helmet. But this helmet is such a simple, immediate preventative measure that I’m blown away it’s not in greater use around the league, that’s all.
by DarrenM on Oct 8, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Somehow I don't think Messier's in it for the money...
Helmets can’t prevent all concussions, that is true, but if they’re designed properly, they can absorb some of the impact of a collision and prevent some concussions. And that’s the whole point.
by PeterR on Oct 8, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel bad about stating that the Moose was in it for the money, that was wrong. As someone who is studying concussion in Hockey I still disagree that this helmet makes any difference. I would be happy to back it up, here is a quick link.
by stickboy on Oct 8, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the link, but that’s a really short quote from the doctor, and it doesn’t seem to me that he had any sort of a good look at the M11.
Again, I don’t think it’s going to eliminate it, but I think you’re definitely more likely to avoid a concussion wearing the M11 than the typical helmet.
by DarrenM on Oct 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i almost bought it when it came out last week
the salesman hit me in the head with a stick, a few times with the m11, and a few with the bauer 9500 the other final candidate to buy for the season. the purpose was for me to notice how much quieter the blow was wearing the m11. Cascade, who makes the helmet actually has there headquarters in new york, probably around 100 miles away from binghamton. It was extremely comfortable, yet it gave me a sense of protection like no other. I know i might hear it for saying this, but i ended up buying the 9500. It’s still a protective helmet, and in my opinion, but the bauer looks so much better. If you play hockey, you know that a big part of buying equipment is whether it looks good or not. That next saturday, i noticed ryan shannon has that same 9500. Then he got a concussion., then Moose was taking about the M11 on the intermission. i found it ironic.
Everyone knows bauer is a quality and trusted brand. Cascade, is a pioneer in hockey, but dominates the lacrosse industry.
the m11 was an excellent helmet, but although the bauer 9500 is a bit less protective, it’s still the best bauer has to offer. and bauer can make a helmet. Because the 9500 looked better on me, i was willing to sacrifice that extra protection that the less lean looking m11 had to offer.
It was a hard decision really. but i went with what looks good and what i trusted in the end. Then again, i play highschool, not the quite as physical and dangerous as the premier hockey league in the world.
i wouldn’t be surprised if you saw the same technology in the next wave of rbk, ccm and bauer helmets next year.
and Cascade is a david taking on Goliath in cmm and bauer. They don’t really have the money to throw at Messier to promote him. I think Mess is in for unselfish reasons.
by xBKx14 on Oct 8, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for that post, BK. I won’t get on your case for going with the Bauer – I remember how much the look of my helmet mattered to me back in highschool (growing up wearing a JOFA made me self conscious by that age!)
Yeah, I think the technology will have to get used by other companies, and you’re right about Messier – I’m pretty sure this is goodwill on his part.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
by DarrenM on Oct 8, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had a godawful Cooper for a while.
The one with the weird freakin’ bars along the side? Awful.
by PeterR on Oct 8, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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