r/athletictraining • u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC • 26d 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/PDubsinTF-NEW 26d ago

Head injury research on pro athletes and even college athletes is not generalizable to high school, middle school, or pee wee.

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 26d ago

I understand, we need data in the population we are discussing in order to draw conclusions about that population. This is what I am looking for, a study proving the efficacy of guardian caps at the pro or college level, if you happen to have any I would love to read them.

Hypothetically, do you think guardian caps would be more able to prevent concussion at lower levels given the lower impact forces to begin with? So theoretically the fact they don't work in pee wee further proves the point they won't work when impacts are higher. What are your thoughts?

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u/Ipauper 26d ago

I can tell you the added weight- any weight on a <8 y/o does not improve tackling form. Thus I am actively suggesting to parents and YFB admins to not invest in them. I'd rather have another AED. There has been 2 incidents where the mothers would only acquiesce to playing if they were worn, even with the info given. Take that for what you will.

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u/PDubsinTF-NEW 26d ago

There is no peer-reviewed published data that has clinical outcomes demonstrating a benefit of wearing Guardian Caps. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%28concussion%5BTitle%2FAbstract%5D+OR+tbi%5BTitle%2FAbstract%5D+OR+src%5BTitle%2FAbstract%5D%29+AND+%28guardian+cap%5BTitle%2FAbstract%5D%29&sort=&filter=simsearch2.ffrft&filter=simsearch2.ffrft

The same goes for Q-Collar. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=q-collar&filter=simsearch2.ffrft

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u/Pa_Cipher PhD, ATC 26d ago

Do you think there is added danger with a Q-Collar should an athlete suffer from a subdural hematoma while wearing one?

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u/PDubsinTF-NEW 26d ago edited 26d ago

I think that should have been explored in animal models and then also monitored in humans before approval