With all the concussions that happen in football on the high school, college and professional level, would it better to make a stronger shell, use carbon fiber maybe, or thicker interior padding to reduce the effect of a hard hit?
Or maybe make the outer shell larger and put multiple levels of padding on the inside, some with low-density foam and some with high-density foam. This is done with hockey helmets now, they have different kinds of foam stacked on top of each other. Some hockey helmets use styrofoam like padding, that you see in bicycle helmets, in conjunction with rubber-like foam.
The main issue with concussions is the brain slamming against the inside of the skull. If the outer shell and/or foam of the helmet can reduce the forces that will make the brain hit the skull, then we reduce the chance of a concussion. I think we have the technology to make a better helmet, the real issue is the cost and also materials. We may be able to make a better helmet, but it is either going to cost a lot more, or it is going to be heavier.
NFL pros can afford maybe a carbon fiber shell helmet, but a college or high school player may not be able to afford that, so he'll be given a better but heavier helmet.
A Doc Martens shoe with a thick sole is going to decrease the impact to your heel so you can walk around with an injured heel without problems, but you aren't going to want to wear that Doc Martens shoe when you are racing in a 10K road race.
With that said, some cool kids may defer to wear an old school lighter helmet for either looks or performance with the risk of getting a concussion.
Or maybe make the outer shell larger and put multiple levels of padding on the inside, some with low-density foam and some with high-density foam. This is done with hockey helmets now, they have different kinds of foam stacked on top of each other. Some hockey helmets use styrofoam like padding, that you see in bicycle helmets, in conjunction with rubber-like foam.
The main issue with concussions is the brain slamming against the inside of the skull. If the outer shell and/or foam of the helmet can reduce the forces that will make the brain hit the skull, then we reduce the chance of a concussion. I think we have the technology to make a better helmet, the real issue is the cost and also materials. We may be able to make a better helmet, but it is either going to cost a lot more, or it is going to be heavier.
NFL pros can afford maybe a carbon fiber shell helmet, but a college or high school player may not be able to afford that, so he'll be given a better but heavier helmet.
A Doc Martens shoe with a thick sole is going to decrease the impact to your heel so you can walk around with an injured heel without problems, but you aren't going to want to wear that Doc Martens shoe when you are racing in a 10K road race.
With that said, some cool kids may defer to wear an old school lighter helmet for either looks or performance with the risk of getting a concussion.
