Helmets in sport: fact and fallacy

Curr Sports Med Rep. 2013 Nov-Dec;12(6):377-80. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000016.

Abstract

Head injuries and the prevention of both the short-term and long-term consequences have received heightened awareness in recent years. Education and legislative efforts have promoted both appropriate treatment of concussion and pushed the use of helmets for protection from head injuries. Current scientific data would suggest that helmets are effective at decreasing the risk of serious head injuries. However there is no evidence to suggest that helmets are protective against concussive injuries or the long-term impact of repetitive head trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology*
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / prevention & control*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Head Protective Devices / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Sports Equipment / statistics & numerical data*