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VSR 4 Helmet Analysis

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VSR 4 Helmet Analysis
To many, the solution to the concussion epidemic is to simply make a better helmet. However, as stated above, making a better helmet is not as easy as it seems. Since helmet use is required for all players in the NFL, there have been mixed reviews on which helmets are the best and provide the highest level of protection.
The VSR 4 helmet has been the most popular helmet worn by players in the NFL. Since the original development of this helmet, there have been more advancements in helmet technology. A study conducted by Viano, Pellman, Withnall, and Shewchenko (2006) compared the VSR 4 helmet with four new helmets that are currently on the market. The new helmets that were chosen in this study included the Adams Pro Elite, Riddell Revolution, …show more content…
A specific mathematical formula was created to determine the percent change in concussion risk. The results showed that the newer helmets reduced the incidence of a concussion by 10.8 % when compared to the VSR 4. The impact of transitional and rotational acceleration that a player receives decreased by 9.7% and 18.9 % respectively. Neck injury responses decreased with the new helmets as well (Vianoet al., 2006).
In 2014, another group of researchers published a study that looked at the relationship between two different types of helmet design, and the concussion risk. The helmets, the Riddell VSR4 and Riddell Revolution, are both being used in the NFL. The difference between the helmets is that “the Revolution helmet has a greater offset and 40% thicker foam than the VSR4 helmet” (Rowson et al., …show more content…
The study was conducted over a five-year period using 1833 collegiate football players from eight different universities. During that time frame, 1,281,444 head impacts were documented, with 64 injuries being diagnosed as concussions. The results showed that players who wore the Riddell VSR4 were susceptible to higher acceleration impacts as opposed to those players who wore the Riddell Revolution. Overall, the study concluded that the higher the magnitude of impact, the higher the chance of concussion and therefore recommend the Riddell Revolution helmet. (Rowson et al., 2014). This information further supports the Virginia Tech helmet rankings, as the Riddell Revolution was given a four-star ranking with a STAR Value of 0.362 while the Riddell VSR4 was given only one star with a STAR value of 0.791 (Rowson et al.,
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