Question on Helmets.

[Schmoopy1000]

Was thinking about this while thinking of concussion protocols & AB losing his mind & what not.

Why does the Helmets have to have a hard shell? I get what they thought originally when they became a hard shell. It was just wrong. With all the science & what not nowadays. I remember way back when Mark Kelso was struggling with Concussions (Safety for the Bills) He put a soft shell around his whole helmet. Didnt look sexy but as far as I know he didnt miss any more games with head injuries. if they had a soft shell padded helmet, seems it would protect the jarring of the brain better. (crumple zones if you will) Also when a guy spears another guy with a soft shell helmet vs what they have now. It wouldnt be as much as a weapon as it is now.

1st thoughts I would see a lot more benefits of a soft shell vs. the helmet of today.

So I am curious if this is just a stubbornness to not change from this now traditional helmet or is there a true Scientific reason for not switching?

Does anyone have any idea?

 

[Hang_On_Sloopy08]

No.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

No.

 

[Hang_On_Sloopy08]

a lot.

 

[Debbie Does]

I was a hockey goalie and I used to bicycle a lot. I also skied downhill.

Nope, I want a hardshell helmet with the padding on the inside.

 

[sonnyblack65]

Schmoopy and Sloopy together in same room !! Brres#1 is an expert on wearing helmets or not wearing them

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I was a hockey goalie and I used to bicycle a lot. I also skied downhill.

Nope, I want a hardshell helmet with the padding on the inside.

difference there is your dealing with things that can penetrate soft surfaces. Rocks, branches, whatever. Same with Racing. Need to protect from flying debris.
Nothing on a human body is gonna penetrate a soft shell helmet in a football game. Like I said. It worked for Mark Kelso.

 

[Tapey]

a lot.

Oh

 

[THUNDER]

Was thinking about this while thinking of concussion protocols & AB losing his mind & what not.

Why does the Helmets have to have a hard shell? I get what they thought originally when they became a hard shell. It was just wrong. With all the science & what not nowadays. I remember way back when Mark Kelso was struggling with Concussions (Safety for the Bills) He put a soft shell around his whole helmet. Didnt look sexy but as far as I know he didnt miss any more games with head injuries. if they had a soft shell padded helmet, seems it would protect the jarring of the brain better. (crumple zones if you will) Also when a guy spears another guy with a soft shell helmet vs what they have now. It wouldnt be as much as a weapon as it is now.

1st thoughts I would see a lot more benefits of a soft shell vs. the helmet of today.

So I am curious if this is just a stubbornness to not change from this now traditional helmet or is there a true Scientific reason for not switching?

Does anyone have any idea?

Get rid of helmets and they'll stop leading withe their domes.
I know it'll never happen but that would stop all those head hunters.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Get rid of helmets and they'll stop leading withe their domes.
I know it'll never happen but that would stop all those head hunters.

funny thing is. Awhile back when talking of all the targeting & stuff. Someone brought up go back to leather helmets, which is when I 1st started thinking of the soft shell type helmet.

 

[Cedrique]

Get rid of helmets and they'll stop leading withe their domes.
I know it'll never happen but that would stop all those head hunters.

That's a little extreme but I agree with the original point about looking into softer helmets. The way it is now, although the helmet protects against some things it also is the cause of some injuries.

 

[SteelersPride]

difference there is your dealing with things that can penetrate soft surfaces. Rocks, branches, whatever. Same with Racing. Need to protect from flying debris.
Nothing on a human body is gonna penetrate a soft shell helmet in a football game. Like I said. It worked for Mark Kelso.

Just from playing sports, head injuries, being in healthcare etc........There is SO much research on this stuff. Im not positive on NFL helmets, but I know hockey helmets, theres ones actually to protect you for certain types of impacts etc.

For instance, thers ones with softer foam inside, for more repeated hits.......Theres a helmet that had a hardish foam inside. It doesnt protect your dome as well for general hits, but when you get your socks rocked, it saves your dome........if you get that one major impact, that helmet is no longer good.......

I also think the hard plastic has some to do with force dispersal and such...........

But Kelso also played in the early 90's, the research available then is considered ancient. Like anything because one guy did it, and it worked.........doesnt mean its the right move, or that it was even succesful, he just may not have got his dome rung the same way again...........

But Id be super confident in saying theres research to back up the hard shells.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

But Id be super confident in saying theres research to back up the hard shells.

there is no doubt. They have a ton of research in the helmets they wear now. Guess the question is. Has there been research of the hard shell vs. a soft shell?

I know they had research to improve the hard shell helmet. but have they gone outside of the box to look at something besides improving what they already were using?

 

[SteelersPride]

there is no doubt. They have a ton of research in the helmets they wear now. Guess the question is. Has there been research of the hard shell vs. a soft shell?

I know they had research to improve the hard shell helmet. but have they gone outside of the box to look at something besides improving what they already were using?

I don't have the data. But id be willing to bet yes. But maybe some hybrid like u said? There are some out here that market they r safer and have that design.

 

[broncosmitty]

Football helmets have always seemed more weapon than protection to me.


I forget the lineman for the 9ers name. Played back in the 90's. But he wore a soft covering over his helmet, for protection. That always made sense.

 

[SteelersPride]

Also hard shells are to deflect impact. Although they r out there and may be improving things. Softer Shells can allow for absorption and increased neck and spine injuries

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Also hard shells are to deflect impact. Although they r out there and may be improving things. Softer Shells can allow for absorption and increased neck and spine injuries

Seems like you are more of a proponent of a hard shell. Which is cool, since I would like to hear both sides of thoughts & ideas.

 

[SteelersPride]

Seems like you are more of a proponent of a hard shell. Which is cool, since I would like to hear both sides of thoughts & ideas.

Well like I said I think there's radon's for both types, in certain situations. But for sports, especially ones where u get hit in the head or lead with the head or shoulder, something that can absorb and grip the hit is going to greatly increase neck and spine injuries.....unless someone makes and proves they have a new year defective design Of course

 

[jarntt]

Why not make soft cars too?

Me, I'd want the hard shell protecting me. Put the padding on the inside made of whatever (anyone remember the old water filled helmets?) and if it helps an outer layer of whatever the heck they think will help, but that hard shell is there for safety. It's not just a hit from another helmet it's the head banging on the turf or an opponents knee, etc too

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Why not make soft cars too?

Me, I'd want the hard shell protecting me. Put the padding on the inside made of whatever (anyone remember the old water filled helmets?) and if it helps an outer layer of whatever the heck they think will help, but that hard shell is there for safety. It's not just a hit from another helmet it's the head banging on the turf or an opponents knee, etc too

cars are built with crumple zones. (absorbs energy) Which is why you dont see cars built like they were in the 60's (super hard shell so to speak)
Same with auto racing. they use a soft wall that gives so the impact doesnt directly impact (absorbs energy) the driver inside as much. (football it would be the brain inside)