Comparison of three different ice hockey helmets using an ice hockey specific test protocol

Abstract

Although there are currently no standard tests measuring rotational head motion for ice hockey, researchers have proposed test methods which induce rotational head motion from an impact and may reflect more closely how concussions occur in the sport. Recently, Meehan et al. developed a test method for ice hockey helmets to represent concussive injuries associated with ice hockey. While that provided a method that used impact parameters closer to what may be experienced, the research did not evaluate if different helmets would produce differing results under those loading conditions. The purpose of this study is to use the methods developed by Meehan et al. to evaluate the protective capacity of three different ice hockey helmet designs. This research used monorail drop rig and pneumatic ram systems to follow the protocol of Meehan with a bare headform condition and three different helmet designs, allowing for differences in linear and rotational acceleration, rotational velocity, and maximum principal strain to be determined. The results of this research found that the test method developed by Meehan et al. does result in significant differences between different helmets and helmet designs under identical impact conditions. However, these differences were limited which may be a reflection of the test method as well as commonality in terms of how ice hockey helmets are designed; the different models may not be sufficiently different enough to provide different results under these loading conditions.