Source: newswise.com | Repost Duerson Fund 4/10/2023 –
A new study led by researchers at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) could change public perceptions about helmet safety.
Helmets, which are proven to prevent skull fractures and head wounds, are no doubt critical for safety. However, there is much debate about the extent to which they are capable of mitigating the effects of concussions. The hard-shelled, heavily padded helmets used by many of today’s athletes, military personnel, and industrial workers have been much adapted since early helmet models, which lacked inner padding. But do these design enhancements provide additional protection?
That’s the question that NYITCOM researchers, led by biomedical engineer and Assistant Professor Milan Toma, Ph.D., address in a new study published in Applied Sciences.
During a concussion, forces from the initial hit cause the brain to move rapidly back and forth (oscillate) within the skull and make contact with skull bones. This brain-skull interaction can damage brain chemicals and tissues, especially if multiple interactions occur. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is found in the central brain cavities and space surrounding the brain and spinal cord, cushions the brain and protects it from hitting the skull.