HEAVY PROTECTIVE HELMETS AND NECK INJURIES--A THEORETICAL AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC STUDY

Heavy protective helmets may cause injuries to the cervical spine and fatigue of the neck muscles. A theoretical analysis was made on the reaction forces in the cervical spine caused in rapid head movements using helmets with different weights and mass distributions. An electromyographic study was made of the fatigue of the neck muscles in ice-hockey players of different ages wearing helmets in static load tests. Maximum helmet weights are difficult to specify. The inertia forces of heavy helmets may reduce the injury tolerance significantly. In ice-hockey players up to ten years of age, for whom the mass of the head is relatively great compared to the body, it is recommended that the helmet mass be 0.65 kg or lower. In other categories the helmet mass may be greater but should be as small as possible without reducing the protective effect. The maximum recommended mass depends on the way and time the helmet is used and the protective requirements. (TRRL)