Abstract
Linear impact tests were conducted on 17 modern football helmets. The helmets were placed on the Hybrid III head with the neck attached to a sliding table. The head was instrumented with an array of 3-2-2-2 accelerometers to determine translational acceleration, rotational acceleration, and HIC. Twenty-three (23) different impacts were conducted on four identical helmets of each model at eight sites on the shell and facemask, four speeds (5.5, 7.4, 9.3, and 11.2 m/s) and two temperatures (22.2 and 37.8 °C). There were 1,850 tests in total; 276 established the 1990s helmet performance (baseline) and 1,564 were on the 17 different helmet models. Differences from the 1990s baseline were evaluated using the Student t test (p < 0.05 as significant). Four of the helmets had significantly lower HICs and head accelerations than the 1990s baseline with average reductions of 14.6–21.9% in HIC, 7.3–14.0% in translational acceleration, and 8.4–15.9% in rotational acceleration. Four other helmets showed some improvements. Eight were not statistically different from the 1990s baseline and one had significantly poorer performance. Of the 17 helmet models, four provided a significant reduction in head responses compared to 1990s helmets.
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Acknowledgments
The testing reported here was completed while the lead author was a member of the NFL’s MTBI Committee and oversaw the evaluation program. The test plan was developed in mid-2009. The testing at Biokinetics and Associates Ltd. and Southern Impact Research Center, LLC was commissioned and the raw data was verified and accepted by ProBiomechanics LLC. The testing was funded by the NFL. The cooperation of Riddell, Schutt Sports, Adams USA, PSE (Protective Sport Equipment) and Xenith for supplying helmets for testing at Biokinetics and SIRC is appreciated. Both laboratories have previous and ongoing relationships with some of the helmet manufacturers. These were acknowledged at the onset. Xenith withdrew from participation in the program after receiving their test results. All manufacturers received a copy of their verified and analyzed data as well as the raw transducer responses and test video of their helmets. Identical helmet testing was conducted at each laboratory and the results were not shared between them. The merging of data and analysis was done by ProBiomechanics LLC without the involvement of the two laboratories, which were blinded from the others test results. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NFL or any helmet manufacturer. Many individuals contributed to this helmet testing program and their assistance is greatly appreciated. Mr. Michael Wonnacott ran the impact tests and processed the raw data at Biokinetics and Associates, Ltd. Ms. Elizabeth McCalley ran the impact tests and processed the raw data at SIRC. Dr. Chantal Parenteau merged, tabulated and analyzed the combined data at ProBiomechanics LLC. All of the analyzed data, tables and figures were developed by ProBiomechanics LLC. Two independent researchers reviewed the data and subjected a subset to ANOVA analysis. Those results were shared with the NFL teams and players, and were included in a press release by the league about the helmet testing on July 23, 2010. The ANOVA analysis reached similar but not identical results to those presented here.
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Associate Editor Stefan M. Duma oversaw the review of this article.
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Viano, D.C., Withnall, C. & Halstead, D. Impact Performance of Modern Football Helmets. Ann Biomed Eng 40, 160–174 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0384-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0384-4