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More protective sports gear
Today's N.Y. Times has a weirdly familiar story, "Soccer Headgear: Does It
Do Any Good?" that echoes many of the arguments heard here about bicycle helmets. The whole thing can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/27/sp.../27soccer.html (registration is required but is free). The "headgear" in question is even lighter than a bicycle helmet: The founder of a San Diego-based company called Full90 said he had sold 100,000 pieces of headgear. The headgear resembles an enlarged headband, weighs less than 2 ounces, and covers the forehead, temples and occipital bone in back of the head. The device is made of shock-absorbing foam situated between an outer layer of Lycra and an inner layer of sweat- absorbing polypropylene. Several models are available for $24 to $39. You will recognize extremely modest claims by the manufacturer: Full90 does not claim that its headgear prevents concussions. But the company does say the headgear can reduce, by up to 50 percent, the peak impact forces that occur during typical collisions when a player's head strikes another head, the ground, an elbow or a goal post. Opponents say that there is no scientific basis for supposing that this gadget actually prevents injury, while the supporters reply that the soccer establishment just doesn't want to admit that their sport presents dangers: This has triggered skepticism within the United States Soccer Federation, which contends that marketing to the fears of parents has trumped science regarding the effectiveness of headgear in preventing concussions. * * * The soccer federation, which permits headgear but does not endorse it, fears that its wide use would undermine the assertion that soccer is a safe alternative to football, [inventor Jeff] Skeen said. He likens the doubt of soccer officials to familiar but failed arguments once made against the use of bicycle helmets [!], automobile seat belts and soccer shin guards. "They are trying to thwart the evolution of headgear in soccer because they think it will scare soccer moms away from the sign-up table," Skeen said of soccer federation officials. "And because they think it could be viewed as an admission that heading the ball itself is dangerous." The soccer headgear skeptics say there is no published study proving headband effectiveness and theoretical grounds to believe headbands might actually be dangerous: "There is no evidence headgear are going to help, and some theoretical stuff that it could hurt," said Dr. Gary Green, a clinical professor at the U.C.L.A. division of sports medicine who is on the soccer federation's medical advisory committee. "Why take a chance until this gets studied?" Like their helmet counterparts, they argue that risk compensation will negate any benefits and advocate better skills over protective devices: Players might develop a false sense of security, relying on headgear instead of proper medical evaluation after suffering a concussion, federation doctors say. Or, they say, players might feel invincible in headgear and play with reckless aggressiveness, displaying behavior known as the Superman effect. Rather than headgear, federation officials advocate better technique, stricter rules enforcement and improved officiating to reduce the number of head injuries. Some also recommend mouth guards and padded goal posts instead of padded headgear. There are quotations from players and coaches of teams sponsored by the manufacturer who try to walk a narrow line on risk compensation, denying that such behavior exists but nevertheless lauding the devices for instilling confidence: Jerry Smith, coach of the Santa Clara women's team, which received free headgear from Full90, said the equipment made his players more confident in challenging balls in the air, and more assertive, but not overly so. Several players, including Joy Fawcett of the United States women's national team, who endorses Full90, discounted the so-called the Superman effect, saying the headgear did not make players dangerously aggressive. The full article has more familiar material: dodgy science, sincere testimonials, and painful sounding thought experiments ("I'd challenge any of these doctors who feel this has no value to run into the goal post without a Full90"). I predict this will take a while, but the $30 padded headband will prevail and become compulsory, at least in organized youth soccer in the U.S. -- Paul Turner |
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Paul Turner wrote:
Today's N.Y. Times has a weirdly familiar story, "Soccer Headgear: Does It Do Any Good?" The soccer federation, which permits headgear but does not endorse it, fears that its wide use would undermine the assertion that soccer is a safe alternative to football, [inventor Jeff] Skeen said. ... Interestingly enough, there are relative stats on soccer vs bicycling. http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm "Australia: Pedalling Health compares the injury risks of cycling (falls and collisions) to the risks of some of other sports that children engage in. It seems very fair to me to compare the risks of falls to another sport rather than to driving a motor vehicle. Note that the threshold for these injuries was a trip to the hospital, which I assume means hospitalization rather than the emergency room: Injuries per Million Hours Football 1,900 Squash 1,300 Basketball 1,100 Soccer 600 Bicycling 50 The figures demonstrate that cycling is not dangerous when compared to these sports activities." The soccer headgear skeptics say there is no published study proving headband effectiveness and theoretical grounds to believe headbands might actually be dangerous: I reffed youth soccer for 13 years. A common sight in the fall was small children kicking each other in the shins, out of the sheer experimental joy that this could be done without pain with the aid of shinguards. I can see a generation of future headbangers coming up. -- Mike Kruger Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like. -Will Rogers |
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On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 17:57:39 -0600, "Mike Kruger"
wrote: Paul Turner wrote: Today's N.Y. Times has a weirdly familiar story, "Soccer Headgear: Does It Do Any Good?" The soccer federation, which permits headgear but does not endorse it, fears that its wide use would undermine the assertion that soccer is a safe alternative to football, [inventor Jeff] Skeen said. ... Interestingly enough, there are relative stats on soccer vs bicycling. http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm "Australia: Pedalling Health compares the injury risks of cycling (falls and collisions) to the risks of some of other sports that children engage in. It seems very fair to me to compare the risks of falls to another sport rather than to driving a motor vehicle. Note that the threshold for these injuries was a trip to the hospital, which I assume means hospitalization rather than the emergency room: Injuries per Million Hours Football 1,900 Squash 1,300 Basketball 1,100 Soccer 600 Bicycling 50 The figures demonstrate that cycling is not dangerous when compared to these sports activities." There we are, some legitimate facts. Good to see. Sure puts a few things into focus. Ron |
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On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 20:05:55 -0500, Ronsonic wrote:
There we are, some legitimate facts. Good to see. Sure puts a few things into focus. Kinda spoils the fun, though. |
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