Efficacy of Guardian Cap Soft-Shell Padding on Head Impact Kinematics in American Football: Pilot Findings

Aaron M. Sinnott, Madison C. Chandler, Charles Van Dyke, David L. Mincberg, Hari Pinapaka, Bradley J. Lauck and Jason P. Mihalik ()
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Aaron M. Sinnott: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Madison C. Chandler: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Charles Van Dyke: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
David L. Mincberg: Campus Health Services, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Hari Pinapaka: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Bradley J. Lauck: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Jason P. Mihalik: Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Sport-related concussion prevention strategies in collision sports are a primary interest for sporting organizations and policy makers. After-market soft-shell padding purports to augment the protective capabilities of standard football helmets and to reduce head impact severity. We compared head impact kinematics [peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational acceleration (PRA)] in athletes wearing Guardian Cap soft-shell padding to teammates without soft-shell padding. Ten Division I college football players were enrolled [soft-shell padding (SHELL) included four defensive linemen and one tight end; non-soft-shell (CONTROL) included two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, and one tight end]. Participants wore helmets equipped with the Head Impact Telemetry System to quantify PLA (g) and PRA (rad/s 2 ) during 14 practices. Two-way ANOVAs were conducted to compare log-transformed PLA and PRA between groups across helmet location and gameplay characteristics. In total, 968 video-confirmed head impacts between SHELL ( n = 421) and CONTROL ( n = 547) were analyzed. We observed a Group x Stance interaction for PRA (F 1,963 = 7.21; p = 0.007) indicating greater PRA by SHELL during 2-point stance and lower PRA during 3- or 4-point stances compared to CONTROL. There were no between-group main effects. Protective soft-shell padding did not reduce head impact kinematic outcomes among college football athletes.

Keywords: brain injury; concussion; intervention strategies; injury prevention; repetitive head impact exposure; equipment add-on (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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