Century-old leather helmets are as good as and sometimes better than modern helmets at protecting against concussion from routine football hits, according to a study published Friday by the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Cleveland Clinic researchers conducted impact tests in their biomechanics lab comparing two leather helmets from the early 1900s with 11 of today's polycarbonate helmets. They simulated on-field collisions of 75 g-forces or less, which they say covers 95 percent of the hits common in college and high school games.
Researchers conceded that modern helmets in many instances provided better protection from skull fracture and brain bleeds than the old fashioned leatherhead helmets.
"The point of this study is not to advocate for a return to leather helmets but, rather, to test the notion that modern helmets must be more protective than older helmets simply because 'newer must be better,' " lead researcher Adam Bartsch, director of the Spine Research Lab in Cleveland Clinic's Center for Spine Health, said in a statement.
"Unlike cars, in which seat belts, airbags and crumple zones make the choice between a 1920s Model T and modern mini-van a no-brainer, these results tell us that modern helmets have ample room to improve safety against many typical game-like hits."
Researchers said they analyzed routine collisions common in games and practices, the sort of hits that when absorbed separately do not appear dangerous but when taken cumulatively lead to serious long-term risks.
The modern helmets studied are the kind "used in theNFL, college and high school — things you can get off the shelf," Bartsch said by phone. "High-end polycarbonate shells, high-end facemask, padding on the inside."
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2011-11-03/leather-helmets-concussion-prevention/51070952/1
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