Incremental Deceleration & The Unexpected Bonus!

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Incremental Deceleration and the Softening of the Punch

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The Warrior Tough Concussion Counterpunch helmet positions padding to reduce whiplash potential by eliminating the space required for whiplash to build.  Mathematically it would take a stronger hit to create a rotational concussion, because more force is required in a smaller movement area.  Additionally, by supporting the neck and head, the helmet reduces potential for whiplash trauma and soft tissue injuries. Incremental deceleration is taking advantage of the cushioning quality of the padding while it absorbs force.  The reduction of trauma perceived by the user because of the compression/absorption/transfer of force as the padding supports the head and neck during a hit provides the perception of a softening the punch compared to being hit while wearing an old-style headguard. 

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Incremental Deceleration Promotes Energy Transfer

Incremental deceleration, while it reduces head and neck trauma injuries, it facilitates energy transfer and increases head mass by connecting the head to the torso.  The helmet's design allows energy to pass through the head and brain directly transferring to the torso. Energy transfer, according to Parkinson (1982) Cantu (1992) and Shaw's (2002) professional research finds that if the head is supported or in contact with another surface, such as the head being supported by the helmet on the shoulders (as shown above) the kinetic energy from a punch will flow through the head directly to the torso and a leave the brain unharmed. "For example, if the head is stationary or in contact with another surface, the kinetic energy from a blow (punch) will simply flow through it and be transmitted elsewhere, leaving the brain unharmed and its function intact" (Shaw, 2002, p. 287). 

 

Energy transfer is also intimately intwined with the mass of an object.  Through one object (your head) contacting another object (your torso) the mass of the first object can benefit from the mass of the second object it is in contact with.  Through bracing, the mass of the head through the helmet connection with the torso can add to the head the mass of the torso. This is not a new concept.  “Unarmed combat experts and street fighters have long known that it is virtually impossible to knock out an opponent whose head is fixed against a wall or on the ground. They do not possess the force in their limbs to move both the head and the wall or the ground behind it” (Parkinson, 1982, p.132).

 

Before the invention of the Warrior Tough helmet, neck strengthening was the prime method to increase this connection between the head and torso. “. . .a blow directed straight at the face, particularly in a boxer with a heavily muscled neck, 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. 133-135).  Because the Warrior Tough helmet allows the athlete to create a link between the head and torso it is providing a way to increase the mass of the head as well as transfer energy making it less susceptible to being concussed.  "In all these examples, the mass of the head has effectively become too large to be easily and suddenly accelerated or decelerated by the potentially concussive force" (Shaw, 2002, p. 288).

 

Increasing mass makes it more difficult to jar or shake the brain which makes it more difficult to be concussed.  “It has been evident to boxers and most laymen and physicians that the essential feature of a concussive force is that it be sufficient to jar or shake the head and any connection thereto.” (Parkinson, 1982, p.132). The Warrior Tough Concussion Counterpunch helmet takes advantage of both energy transfer and increasing of mass through the act of bracing to reduce concussion potential and keep the athlete safer.

 

Old-style headguards rely on brow padding and neck strengthening alone to reduce head acceleration.  The padding placement in old-style headguards have the majority of padding above the eye-ear line which increases head weight and creates a high center of gravity in the helmet.  A high center of gravity increases whiplash forces and brain momentum which promote concussions.

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Warrior Tough takes a proactive stance on athlete safety. Our deliberate choice to enhance padding and reduce the whiplash area effectively decelerates head acceleration reducing the risk of concussions and concussion potential.  Be at the forefront of safety with the Warrior Tough Concussion Counterpunch helmet – a game-changer in protective sports gear. We do not claim to eliminate all concussions, but we have designed a helmet based on scientific principles and proven research from concussion experts that is proven to reduce concussion potential increasing athlete safety.