Concussion-proof Helmets - Is there really such a thing?

The number one question I am asked by football parents is "What helmet should my child be wearing to prevent them from having a concussion?"  The easy and honest answer is this:

No matter what helmet your child or athlete is or is not wearing, they are in danger of a concussion while playing football, or any other sport.

The long-form answer is a little more complicated.  Yes, there are helmets that will protect your child better than others, but no helmet is perfect and every athlete is different.  If you're looking for a helmet that will better protect an athlete with a history of serious traumatic head injury, you may consider re-thinking football altogether.  Athletes who have sustained traumatic brain injury in the past are significantly more likely to re-injure themselves than athletes who have not suffered a concussion in the past.

For parents who won't let me escape without giving them a recommendation, this year I'm recommending a Riddell Revolution 360 or a Riddell Revo Speed.  These make up the majority of what my high school team is currently wearing, though I do have a few students in Schutt DNA's, and a few others in what my students laugh and call "potato helmets" due to their age.  I have been around Riddell helmets for over ten years and I personally find them to be some of the best available on the market.  The athletes are most comfortable in them, they have a desirable design, and above all consistently have the highest scores in helmet concussion studies no matter what the testing venue.

Riddell Revolution Speed

Riddell 360

If your school is like mine and doesn't have the funds to replace all of their older helmets, make sure that you are giving out all of the newer helmets first, and make certain that athletes who are prone to head injury or have a history of head injury are in the higher rated helmets in order to decrease their chances of re-injury.

My other action when asked about what helmets are the safest and best is to point parents and coaches to the Virginia Tech - Wake Forest helmet studies.  While these are not the end-all be-all of informational studies, they are an excellent resource for parents, coaches, and medical staff who are looking to educate themselves on helmet safety.   The brief-form summary of their findings can be seen to the right (click to enlarge.)  My two favored helmets received top ratings for the 2012 study, along with the Rawlings Quantum Plus.  The only ratings I tend to disagree with are those for the Xenith X1 and X2 helmets, as I personally find that they do not offer athletes, especially those who have incurred a previous head injury, enough protection from hard contact forces such as head to head, head to ground, or head to knee contacts.

Whichever helmet you choose for your athlete, remember that proper fit is also vital to decreasing the chances of concussion.  Helmet technology and proper hitting mechanics can only take safety so far, and if a helmet does not fit correctly the chances of injury skyrocket.  Helmets should be snug so as not to move around on the athlete's head, but not so tight as to cause discomfort.  The ear holes in the helmet should line up with the athlete's own ears.  The front lip of the helmet should fall about one inch or two finger-widths above the eyebrow, and the face mask should come out about three finger widths from the end of the athlete's nose.  The chin strap should be snug to prevent movement, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation or causes discomfort.  

Stay safe this season, and remember that no helmet is 100% concussion-proof.  Always make sure that your athletes are in the best helmet for them, and that they wear a mouthguard at every game and practice!