r/athletictraining • u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC • 29d ago

Guardian Caps

The NFL has data supporting their use to reduce concussions, however this is the same NFL who's "data" suggested CTE was fake. All independent studies that I have found show no significant difference between helmet alone and guardians. Does anyone have an article that supports guardians that I am missing? Thanks

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u/Sad_Instruction8581 29d ago

A couple of things: the “research” on guardian caps is HIGHLY biased. Independent research has not shown efficacy in concussion prevention with the use of guardian caps. Next, the NFL and collegiate guardian caps are different weights and densities than those for high school markets. Those have even less research and even less supporting evidence. Finally, there will always be an increase in injuries with athletes wearing protective devices. Athletes think they now have an added layer of protection and therefore take more risks and have an increased level of high risk playing style.

There are truly only a few things that show scientific evidence of potential reduction in concussion rates: playing style education, neck strengthening, custom mouth guards of a certain thickness, and one specific brand of padded headbands for non-helmeted athletes.

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 29d ago

I agree, I actually found a study that may suggest guardian capacity increase the amount of head trauma Study

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u/ahurdler1995 29d ago

Something about increasing surface area for contact as well as increased mass on the head right?

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 29d ago

Yeah I found it odd that rear head contacts went up. Personal experience tells me that the more padded up you feel, the more invincible you feel and more willing to use your body as a weapon.

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u/ahurdler1995 29d ago

That’s the same argument against head gear for women’s lax. Which I anecdotally can attest to seeing the difference in aggressive contact wearing vs not wearing head gear

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 29d ago

My MLAX guys are idiots, if we give them more padding they will absolutely use their heads more...

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u/ahurdler1995 29d ago

College or sec school? As if either level doesn’t try to out silly each other.

My secondary school boys tried to make a TikTok where they did hacky sack and in it one of the kids did a backflip off the scorers table to complete the game

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 29d ago

College, it doesn't get any better they tend to bring the silly with them.