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. 2023 Jan 17;7(4):CNC99.
doi: 10.2217/cnc-2022-0005. eCollection 2022 Dec.

A pilot case crossover study of the use of padded headgear in junior Australian football

Catherine Willmott  1   2 , Jonathan Reyes  1   2 , Jack V K Nguyen  1 , Andrew McIntosh  3   4   5 , Jennifer Makovec-Knight  1 , Michael Makdissi  6   7 , Patrick Clifton  8 , Peter Harcourt  8 , Biswadev Mitra  9   10   11
Affiliations

A pilot case crossover study of the use of padded headgear in junior Australian football

Catherine Willmott et al. Concussion. .

Abstract

Aim: To explore soft-shell padded headgear (HG) use, player behavior and injuries associated with HG in junior Australian football.

Methods: Prospective case-crossover with head impact measurement, injury surveillance and video review.

Results: 40 players (mean age: 12.43 years, standard deviation: 1.36) across 15 matches were observed. Frequency of head/neck (p = 0.916) or body (p = 0.883) contact events, and match incidents were similar between HG and no HG conditions. Without HG, females had higher frequency of body contacts compared with males (p = 0.015). Males sustained more body contacts with HG than without HG (p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Use of HG in junior football was not associated with injury or head contact rate. Associations between HG use and body contact may differ across sexes. (ID: ACTRN12619001165178).

Keywords: behavior; headgear; injury surveillance; mild traumatic brain injury; sport-related concussion; youth football.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Soft-padded headgear utilised in this study.
(A) Front–side view. (B) Front view.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Participant and data flowchart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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