Linear Acceleration
A force that is moving in a straight line
Figure A: Old-style Headguard
Impact Concussion: The First Type of Concussion
The front brow padding of any helmet serves as the primary defense. In the design of the old-style headguard (Figure A) some forces are absorbed upon impact, after which, remaining forces are transferred to the neck, skull, and brain. If the impact force is strong and fast, it can cause the skull to move before the brain does, resulting in bruising of the brain behind the initial point of impact, this is known as an impact concussion. This type of concussion occurs because the neck, supporting the skull, is unable to transfer the energy fast enough. As the neck whiplashes, the brain remains stationary, leading to a collision at the back of the skull impulse concussion and the front of the brain .
Impact Concussion: The First Type of Concussion
What sets the Concussion Counterpunch helmet apart from old-style headguards are the additional second, third, and fourth layers of defense which include bracing and energy transfer features.
Parkinson noted the effects of adding head to torso mass. "...is unlikely to knock him out as he effectively adds the mass of his neck, shoulder, and upper thorax to the mass of his head thus requiring a greater force to significantly move the total mass.” (Parkinson, 1982 p. 133-134)
Bracing, the second defense, occurs when the helmet is positioned on the shoulders before impact. The third defense involves energy transfer, a result of bracing. The fourth defense is linking the mass of the head with the torso making it harder for kinetic energy to move or accelerate the head. The padding of the Concussion Counterpunch helmet supports and strengthens the neck while providing a route for the absorbed kinetic energy to transfer and dissipate in the torso. When the helmet is braced, it provides a direct channel for energy to follow and dissipate, significantly reducing injury potential.
Warrior Tough Concussion Counterpunch Helmet
Looks Different so it will Function Differently Here's How
At Warrior Tough, our goal is to reduce concussion potential and other soft tissue injuries while encouraging active participation in combat sports. By providing quality equipment that is designed to reduce concussion potential, we hope to inspire athletes to participate in combat sports where they learn invaluable skills such as: self-esteem, ethics, self-reliance, and conflict resolution.
The Warrior Tough Concussion Counterpunch helmet transfers kinetic energy from an impact through the helmet. While brow padding is the initial defense with any headguard or helmet, padding alone will not stop injury, it simply absorbs the force of an impact by compressing. Absorbed kinetic energy ends up in the head, neck and brain, potentially causing injury.
Shaw states: “For example, If the head is not mobile or is in contact with another surface or object, the kinetic energy transferred via the blow will simply flow through it and be transmitted elsewhere leaving the brain unharmed and its function intact (Shaw, 2002, p. 287).”