Concussions rose 18% during the 2022 season
Concerns about the safety of the sport have once again come to the forefront. In recent years, the issue of concussions and their long-term effects on players has become a major topic of discussion, and unfortunately, it appears that the number of concussions in the NFL is on the rise.
According to data released by the league, there were 149 concussions suffered over 271 games this season. That's an 18% jump from 2021 (126) and 14% higher than the three-year average (130) between 2018 and 2020.
It is crucial that the NFL continues to prioritize player safety and take steps to reduce the number of concussions in the sport.
It is also important for fans and the media to recognize the severity of the concussion issue and demand action from the league. While football is a beloved American pastime, it should not come at the cost of the health and well-being of its players.
SOURCE: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35582897/nfl-says-regular-season-concussions-increased-18-2022
DOES ANYONE IN THE NFL WEAR A LIGHT HELMET?
NO, IN FACT LIGHT IS PROHIBITED FROM BEING USED IN THE NFL, AND WE ARE FINE WITH THAT.
THE NFL, HAVING LOST A BILLION-DOLLAR PLUS LAWSUIT RELATED TO HEAD INJURIES, WAS REQUIRED TO ADDRESS RULE CHANGES, COMPENSATION, INSURANCE AND HELMET TESTING / TECHNOLOGY, ALL WITH THE HOPES OF REDUCING FUTURE HEAD INJURIES. IN SPITE OF VAST AMOUNTS POURED INTO NEW HELMET TECHNOLOGIES, TESTING, AND PROTOCOLS, THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THE NUMBER OF CONCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED IN GAMES, BUT DURING PRACTICES, WHERE THE GAME RULES ARE NOT A FACTOR, THE NUMBER OF CONCUSSIONS REMAIN ALMOST UNCHANGED!
THIS POINTS TO THE RULE CHANGES BEING THE LARGEST FACTOR IN REDUCING NFL CONCUSSIONS, AND THE MIGRATIONS TO LARGER AND HEAVIER HELMETS HAVING LITTLE IMPACT ON MOVING THE NEEDLE. SOME STUDIES POINT TO THE INCREASE IN SIZE AND WEIGHT OF HELMETS EVEN MAKING THE SITUATION WORSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NFL WILL NOT RELEASE DATA ON WHAT HELMETS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH CONCUSSIONS ON FIELD. WE’VE ASKED.
Injury Data Since 2015; published Feb 3, 2023. Source: NFL Player Health and Safety website
https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/injury-data/injury-data
NFL Helmet testing? No problem, just add two pounds of lead.
THE NFL HELMET TESTING PROTOCOL REWARDS WEIGHT, AND WE PROVED IT. ACTUALLY, THE SAME LAB THAT DOES THE TESTING FOR THE NFL, BIOKINETICS, VALIDATED THIS CONCEPT.
AFTER THE LIGHT LS2 WAS PROHIBITED FROM THE NFL, WE SUBMITTED ANOTHER LS1 TO BIOKINETICS, CODE NAMED THE BA1 (BOAT ANCHOR ONE). THIS HELMET WAS THE EXACT SAME AS THE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED LS2, BUT WITH TWO POUNDS OF ADDED LEAD AND NO ADDITIONAL PROTECTIVE QUALITIES. THE 5.2 POUND HELMET RECEIVED A SCORE THAT WOULD CATEGORIZE IT AS A “GREEN” HELMET AND ACCEPTABLE FOR PLAY IN THE 2022 SEASON. ADDING WEIGHT TO OBTAIN NFL COMPLIANCE AT THE EXPENSE OF PLAYER SAFETY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT LIGHT, NOR OUR MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD OF NEUROLOGISTS, TRAUMA DOCS, AND ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICIANS WILL EVER AGREE WITH.
THE LIGHT BA1: THE NFL COMPLIANT HELMET LIGHT WILL NEVER BUILD.
WHILE REAL WORLD RESULTS ARE BEST, WE STILL DON’T SHY AWAY FROM TESTS THAT ARE SIMPLY MANIPULATED BY ADDING WEIGHT.
THE INDEPENDENT LABS OF VIRGINIA TECH RATES THE LIGHT LS2 AS #8 OF 28 HELMETS RATED (5TH OF THOSE BEING PRODUCED) FAR BETTER THAN MANY “TOP RATED” NFL HELMETS. IT IS ALSO THE LIGHTEST IN THE TOP 10 AT 3.5 LBS. OF COURSE ALL LIGHT LS2S MEET NOCSAE STANDARDS.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER LEVELS OF PLAY BESIDES THE NFL?
MOST HELMETS USED IN THE NFL ARE NOT THE SAME MODELS USED AT OTHER LEVELS OF PLAY. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THE RIGORS OF THE NFL LABORATORY TESTING. THERE ARE A WIDE RANGE OF EACH MODEL OF HELMET AND THE COSTS CAN VARY FROM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO NEARLY $2000.
THE NFL DISCLOSED: “THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY SHOULD NOT BE EXTRAPOLATED TO COLLEGIATE, HIGH SCHOOL OR YOUTH FOOTBALL.”