Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of protective football headgear on peripheral vision reaction time and visual target detection. Twenty-five Division I NCAA football players (age = 20.5 yrs ± 0.9, height = 185.9 cm ± 6.8, body mass = 99.2 kg ± 19.2, BMI = 29.6 ± 4.5) participated. In a crossover counterbalanced study design, subjects participated in one visit with three conditions: Baseline (BL) without headgear, helmet only (HO), helmet with an eye shield (HE). Subjects completed a 1-min peripheral vision reaction time test for each condition separated by 3-min recovery periods. Tests were administered using a 64 light Dynavision D2 Visuomotor board. Target detection (total hit score) was higher during BL than HO (p < 0.001) and HE (p < 0.001). Average (p < 0.001), peak (p < 0.001), minimum (p < 0.001), and median (p < 0.001) peripheral reaction times were faster during BL than HO and HE. No significant differences were observed for any measures between HO and HE conditions (p > 0.05). Findings indicate that protective football headgear impaired reaction time to peripheral visual stimuli. The addition of an eye shield to the helmet had a small non-significant effect on reaction time and target detection. These results may hold important implications in helmet design and player safety.
Highlights
The first documented piece of protective American football headgear was developed in 1896 consisting of straps and earpieces with the intention of protecting the ears [1]
Protective football headgear has become bulkier, in efforts to prevent brain and head injuries [2,23]. Safety equipment such as the facemask and face shield have been adopted over time to prevent player injury
Previous evidence has shown that protective football headgear can obscure the visual field [3]
Summary
The first documented piece of protective American football headgear was developed in 1896 consisting of straps and earpieces with the intention of protecting the ears [1]. As tackling rules and regulations changed, wearing protective football headgear, the helmet, became mandatory in the early mid 1900s in an effort to prevent brain and head injuries [2]. While the earliest models of helmets allowed for clearer sight, the development of bulkier football headgear has led to more obstructions and visual impairment while wearing helmets [3]. Since unobstructed vision is necessary for players to perform sports-specific skills safely, knowledge of how modern football headgear affects the ability to respond to visual stimuli may be important to player safety and equipment design
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