What Is Whiplash and How Does It Occur?
Figure A: Old-style Headguards
What Is Whiplash & How Does It Occur?
Whiplash is a term commonly associated with neck injuries resulting from a sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. In the 1960s and 1970s, researchers began to study the biomechanics of whiplash injuries. After conducting experiments using crash test dummies and simulations, scientists were able to identify how injury occurred.
Today, there is a growing emphasis on preventive measures, including advancements in car seat technology and vehicle headrest design to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries in cars and yet, nothing has been done with regard to head protection in combat sports such as MMA, martial arts, boxing, or even football.
Traditional headguards fail to incorporate features aimed at minimizing the risk of whiplash-type injuries such as neck strains and rotational concussions. Warrior Tough helmets are the only helmets on the market designed with multiple features to help inhibit whiplash potential.
Figure B: Warrior Tough Helmet
Customizable Fit:
Warrior Tough helmets are fully adjustable with a customizable fit system that allow users to ensure a snug and secure fit. A properly fitted helmet is crucial for preventing excessive movement and potential injuries.
Jaw and Face Protection:
Warrior Tough helmets incorporate additional padding around the cheek bones and jaw line to reduce the potential for jaw, eye, and nose injuries. Because this padding is part of the neck padding, it contributes to the helmets ability to protect the face and neck during impact events.
Concussion Zone
Reducing Whiplash Potential:
By placing padding behind the head, the area permitted for whiplash to occur is reduced. If the head cannot accelerate because of a lack of space, the potential for injury is also reduced.
Creation of a Free Movement Safe Zone:
The Warrior Tough helmet extends towards the athlete's shoulders creating a gap that the athlete can close when taking a protective posture. The gap provides a free movement safe zone that allows all the free movement the athlete needs for the sport while keeping the head in an area that is safe. Movement outside the safe zone is movement that invites injury, such as neck strain, head acceleration, and whiplash which promote concussive events.
Neck Support and Stability:
Through bracing (dropping the chin and raising the shoulders as with a good on-guard stance) the Warrior Tough helmet provides energy transfer keeping energy from getting trapped in the head reducing the potential of brain injury.
Shock Absorption Systems:
Only Warrior Tough helmets incorporate a patented shock absorption systems designed to dissipate and absorb impact energy. By providing additional neck support and stability, trauma to the head and neck are reduced, increasing safety potential while reducing the risk of whiplash injuries.
Testing for Safety:
The Warrior Tough helmet design has been tested by an in independent certified lab and when in the braced position, consistently maintained measures below the mTBI threshold validating that the helmet interventions reduce concussive events.