Use Of Protective Headgear Research Articles

Acute injury and chronic disability resulting from surfboard riding

We undertook a cross-sectional survey of surfers at eight Victorian beaches between February and May 2003 and analysed acute injury and chronic disability sustained while surfing during the preceding 12 months. Significant injuries were defined as requiring medical attention or time off surfing/work. 646 surfers were enrolled (90.2% male, median age 27 years, median years of surfing 10). 145 surfers sustained 168 significant acute injuries in the preceding 12 months (0.26 injuries/surfer/year, 95% CI 0.22-0.30). Most were caused by striking a surfboard or another surfer (45.2%, 95% CI 37.6-53.1), "wiping out" (36.3%, 95% CI 29.1-44.1) or striking the seabed (17.9%, 95% CI 12.6-24.7). Injuries included lacerations (46.4%, 95% CI 38.8-54.3), sprains (28.6%, 95% CI 22.0-36.1), dislocations (10.7%, 95% CI 6.7-16.6) and fractures (8.9%, 95% CI 5.3-14.6). Body parts most frequently injured were the lower limb (45.8%, 95% CI 38.2-53.7) and the head/face (26.2%, 95% CI 19.9-33.6). Surfing injuries that were treated in Victorian emergency departments over a six year period revealed a similar pattern, although there was a greater proportion of head/face injuries (42.0%, 95% CI 36.0-48.1, p = 0.001). 20 surfers reported long-term effects from acute injuries, mainly unstable/stiff/painful joints. 136 surfers reported chronic health problems not related to acute injury including chronic/recurrent otitis externa and exostoses, muscle and joint pain/stiffness and pterygium. Significant injury while surfing is not uncommon. Although head injury accounts for a considerable proportion, very few surfers wear protective headgear. Greater use of protective headgear should be considered.

Animal-related injury in an urban New Zealand population

The contribution of animals to injury in urban populations is not well described. We reviewed our trauma admissions for animal-related injury to identify animals involved, risk factors and patterns of injury. Eight thousand nine hundred and fifty-four patients were admitted for trauma during the study period. One hundred and sixty-seven injuries were due to animals (1.9%). Horses were involved in 86% and dogs in 10% of injuries. Most horse riders were injured in falls. Factors associated with increased risk included being young, female and riding for leisure. Body regions most commonly injured were the head and both upper and lower extremities. Patterns of injury were identified. Horse-related injury is a significant source of traumatic injury in an identifiable at-risk subgroup of our urban population. High rates of head injury and low rates of helmet use suggest a more effective strategy to encourage use of protective headgear is needed. Further efforts aimed at injury prevention must include an improvement in skill and knowledge of horsemanship, particularly in the at-risk group of young female amateur riders. Mechanistic patterns of injury and body-region markers identified in this study may assist early recognition of severe and occult injuries in these patients.

Does rugby headgear prevent concussion? Attitudes of Canadian players and coaches

Objectives: To examine the attitudes of players and coaches to the use of protective headgear, particularly with respect to the prevention of concussion. Methods: A questionnaire designed to assess attitudes...

Protective headgear in rugby union.

This article interprets the studies performed on the use of headgear in sport which relate to rugby. The design and testing of helmets and their effective use for protection in sport in general appears to be well documented. This is not the case for the use of protective headgear in rugby. Nevertheless, some conclusions and recommendations are warranted. Protection from the range of impacts that can arise through participation in contact sports does not seem to be attainable by using protective helmets or protective rugby headgear. However, the use of headgear is recommended for protection against lacerations and abrasions and to provide a limited protection from injury caused by impact. Referees should discourage the use of protective headgear, to manipulate an opponent by using the rules to eliminate such behaviour. Coaches, athletes and administrators must be committed to the practice of safe performance skills, for example, by not using the head as an implement and not targeting the headgear of the opposing player. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of protective headgear in reducing the risk of injury in rugby, whether the use of headgear places a player at a greater risk of injury through altered behaviour and the reasons why players currently choose not to wear headgear.

Intracranial hematoma in experienced teenage equestrians

Intracranial hematoma in pediatric equestrians is rare, notwithstanding the lack of uniform standards and requirements for the use of protective headgear during equestrian events. We report two teenage helmeted equestrians who sustained severe head trauma with intracranial hematoma due to falls during equestrian events. Current recommendations for the use of equestrian headgear are reviewed.

Value of wearing head protection gear while playing hurling.

One of the three national games of Ireland, hurling is a contact team sport (15 a side) played with a metre long ash stick and a small hard leather ball. Over a 12 month period, 413 players were treated for hurling-related injuries at Cork Regional Hospital. While hand and facial trauma predominate, the proportion between the two sites has changed substantially from previous reports with a reduction in the level of facial injuries. The wearing of a helmet, and optionally a supplementary faceguard, is seen to have contributed to this trend. Despite this welcome reduction of facial injuries, a certain resistance to the use of protective headgear is evident, particularly among older players.

THE USE OF WRIST WEIGHTS TO REDUCE SELF‐INJURY MAINTAINED BY SENSORY REINFORCEMENT

The participant in this study was a boy with a long history of self-injurious face slapping. Following a functional analysis indicating that face slapping was maintained by sensory consequences, the participant was given soft wrist weights to wear for progressively longer periods. Data on the frequency of face slapping were collected 5 min before the weights were put on, while the weights were on, and 5 min after the weights were removed. At all other times a protective helmet was placed on the participant's head for 30 min contingent on face slaps. When weights were worn for 30 min each day, face slapping decreased during 5-min observation periods before and after wearing the weights. The use of protective headgear was eliminated by the end of the study. Face slapping did not occur during a follow-up check conducted 5 months after completion of the study.

NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURIES IN HORSEBACK-RIDING ACCIDENTS

A review of 156 horseback-riding accidents that occurred in southern Alberta over a 6-year period and resulted in nervous system trauma, including 11 deaths, is presented. The majority (81%) of accidents occurred during recreational activity and 81% were associated with falling or being thrown from a horse. Head injury occurred in 92% of patients and accounted for all of the 11 deaths. Spinal injury occurred in 13% of the patients and was associated with head injury in 40%. One peripheral nerve injury was identified. Helmets were used by only two victims. The 11 deaths that occurred as a consequence of severe head injury accounted for 79% of all deaths associated with horseback riding. This profile of neurologic injuries associated with horse-related accidents supports a need for use of protective headgear.