More protective sports gear - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

11-27-2004, 06:16 AM

Today's N.Y. Times has a weirdly familiar story, "Soccer Headgear: Does It
Do Any Good?" that echoes many of the arguments heard here about bicycle
helmets. The whole thing can be found at
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
(registration is required but is free).

The "headgear" in question is even lighter than a bicycle helmet:

> The founder of a San Diego-based company called
> Full90 said he had sold 100,000 pieces of headgear.
> The headgear resembles an enlarged headband, weighs
> less than 2 ounces, and covers the forehead, temples
> and occipital bone in back of the head. The device
> is made of shock-absorbing foam situated between an
> outer layer of Lycra and an inner layer of sweat-
> absorbing polypropylene. Several models are available
> for $24 to $39.

You will recognize extremely modest claims by the manufacturer:

> Full90 does not claim that its headgear prevents
> concussions. But the company does say the headgear
> can reduce, by up to 50 percent, the peak impact
> forces that occur during typical collisions when
> a player's head strikes another head, the ground,
> an elbow or a goal post.

Opponents say that there is no scientific basis for supposing that this
gadget actually prevents injury, while the supporters reply that the
soccer establishment just doesn't want to admit that their sport presents
dangers:

> This has triggered skepticism within the United
> States Soccer Federation, which contends that
> marketing to the fears of parents has trumped
> science regarding the effectiveness of headgear
> in preventing concussions.

* * *

> The soccer federation, which permits headgear but
> does not endorse it, fears that its wide use would
> undermine the assertion that soccer is a safe
> alternative to football, [inventor Jeff] Skeen
> said. He likens the doubt of soccer officials to
> familiar but failed arguments once made against
> the use of bicycle helmets [!], automobile seat belts
> and soccer shin guards.

> "They are trying to thwart the evolution of
> headgear in soccer because they think it will
> scare soccer moms away from the sign-up table,"
> Skeen said of soccer federation officials. "And
> because they think it could be viewed as an
> admission that heading the ball itself is dangerous."

The soccer headgear skeptics say there is no published study proving
headband effectiveness and theoretical grounds to believe headbands might
actually be dangerous:

> "There is no evidence headgear are going to help,
> and some theoretical stuff that it could hurt," said
> Dr. Gary Green, a clinical professor at the U.C.L.A.
> division of sports medicine who is on the soccer
> federation's medical advisory committee. "Why take
> a chance until this gets studied?"

Like their helmet counterparts, they argue that risk compensation will
negate any benefits and advocate better skills over protective devices:

> Players might develop a false sense of security,
> relying on headgear instead of proper medical
> evaluation after suffering a concussion, federation
> doctors say. Or, they say, players might feel
> invincible in headgear and play with reckless
> aggressiveness, displaying behavior known as
> the Superman effect.

> Rather than headgear, federation officials
> advocate better technique, stricter rules
> enforcement and improved officiating to reduce
> the number of head injuries. Some also recommend
> mouth guards and padded goal posts instead of
> padded headgear.

There are quotations from players and coaches of teams sponsored by the
manufacturer who try to walk a narrow line on risk compensation, denying
that such behavior exists but nevertheless lauding the devices for
instilling confidence:

> Jerry Smith, coach of the Santa Clara women's team,
> which received free headgear from Full90, said the
> equipment made his players more confident in
> challenging balls in the air, and more assertive,
> but not overly so.

> Several players, including Joy Fawcett of the United
> States women's national team, who endorses Full90,
> discounted the so-called the Superman effect, saying
> the headgear did not make players dangerously aggressive.

The full article has more familiar material: dodgy science, sincere
testimonials, and painful sounding thought experiments ("I'd challenge any
of these doctors who feel this has no value to run into the goal post
without a Full90"). I predict this will take a while, but the $30 padded
headband will prevail and become compulsory, at least in organized youth
soccer in the U.S.

--

Paul Turner