Protective Headgear For Sports

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-22-2015

Department

Kinesiology

School

Kinesiology and Nutrition

Abstract

Participation in contact sports across all levels carries a risk of sustaining a head injury through an impact event. As part of the protective "garment," sports headgear serves to mitigate the deleterious effects of these head collisions. However, performance requirements for sports headgear vary due to a myriad of expected service-life conditions. As such, polymeric materials must provide the essential properties for processing, construction, and management of the cumulative degradative exposures of helmet material storage and use. Sectors of the sport headgear industry have implemented reconditioning and recertification processes for helmets due to deterioration in an effort to maintain initial performance standards. Analytical polymer science techniques can assist sport engineers to monitor changes in functional properties throughout the helmet life span as well as aid in product development processes. Additional efforts to mitigate sport-related head trauma include development of novel pneumatic liner systems, composite outer shells, and aftermarket additive helmet technologies.

Publication Title

Textiles for Sportswear

First Page

213

Last Page

244

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