A new study involving presented by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons indicates that wearing football helmets that do not fit properly increases the severity of concussions.
A new study involving high school football players shows that wearing helmets that don't fit properly increases the severity of concussions.
The study is being presented this week at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons' annual meeting.
Research showed athletes who suffered concussions due to improper fitting helmets experienced more drowsiness, noise sensitivity and hyper-excitability. It also showed players with helmets that used inflated air, rather than foam or gel liners to protect the head, had concussion symptoms for a longer period of time.
According to the AAOS, the study reveals coaches, trainers and physicians need to better supervise helmet checks throughout the season and points to how helmet fit can change during play, hair style and weather.
This is the first study to single out the impact of helmet fit based on a long period of time, according to the AAOS. Experts analyzed data from 4,580 athletes over a period of nine years.
