NFL Set To Test New Helmet Tech In Battle vs. Concussions
By Erik Lambert
Easily the most controversial and potentially devastating subject that could sink pro football if not handled properly is the NFL concussion issue.
Already several advocate groups have declared open war on the league for its violence and potentially devastating impact on long-term health of its players. Brain trauma naturally being front and center to that. Of course they’re taking the brunt of the media beating while MMA, boxing and other contact sports stay out of the limelight.
Such is the price to be paid for being the most powerful sports league in the western hemisphere. Nonetheless the NFL isn’t sitting around just taking those hits (pun very much intended). They’ve been proactive in finding ways to curb fears about it. They’ve settled long-term medical care for ex-players and are also investing heavily in a possible helmet technology that curbs the risk of receiving them.
ESPN elaborated on a new prototype they plan to test this year.
"“NFL teams will be trying out a new helmet, the VICIS Zero 1 , that the league and the players’ union hope will be more effective in trying to limit head trauma. The new product topped independent testing of 33 helmets conducted in Canada by the league and NFLPA. The results, which included testing the impact at three velocities and in eight locations on each helmet, were sent to each team and to the players.The Zero 1 is the first to account for rotational as well as linear impact. Scientific studies have indicated that rotational impact has more correlation with concussions.”"
NFL concussion battle must be fought on many fronts
The one thing going in the leagues’ favor at this point is knowledge of concussions is growing every day. The more people know about them, the more they’ll know how to deal with them. That means technology and medicine to help either prevent or treat them. This is the end game the NFL wants. Finding a way to play their game more safely, easing the fears of parent who will decide whether or not their children should play football.
It’s going to be a long battle. Not to mention a costly one. Nonetheless it’s a price they have to pay. Like any sport football is tied to athletic talent. The less they have, the more the quality of the game suffers. As long as they continue to stay serious about this real and present danger, it should be okay. Modern technology and medicine will continue to advance. Sooner or later breakthroughs will occur.