Wearing a poorly fitting helmet increases severe concussion risk for high school football players, according to a study presented March 4 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Preventing concussions in high school football (and all youth sports) has been a serious concern in recent years. The topic has been studied extensively and guidelines for concussion prevention have been issued. Yet this is the first study to examine the role of helmet fit over a long time period.

This study spanned nine sports seasons from 2005 to 2014. Using the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System for players with first time concussions, researchers looked at data from 4,580 athletes aged 13 to 19.

Athletes whose concussions were due to helmets that were not properly fitted had higher rates of drowsiness, hyperexcitability, and sensitivity to noise than those who wore helmets that fit correctly. Many had more than one of the 13 concussion symptoms that were considered in the study. Researchers also found wearing helmets lined with air bladders resulted in longer-lasting concussion symptoms.

When a helmet fits incorrectly, the muscles in an athlete’s neck and head are called upon to reduce the force of the impact on the brain. But the muscles are often unable to do so, especially when parts of the body rotate during high-speed impact.

Proper helmet fit depends on each helmet’s individual design. To ensure the correct fit, players should follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Adults should double-check the fit at the start of the season. Because helmet fit can evolve due to sweat, hairstyle, rain, cold weather gear, and other factors, adults should also do midseason spot checks to ensure a correct fit.

REFERENCE
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2016). Poor Helmet Fit Associated with Concussion Severity in High School Football Players [press release]. Retrieved from http://www.aaos-annualmeeting-presskit.org/2016/news_releases/helmet.shtml on March 4, 2016.