A Proposed Method for Evaluating Neck Protection Equipment
SourceThe catastrophic nature of cervical spine injuries in football, although the incidence of these injuries is infrequent, has led to recent attempts to develop new methods of neck protection. Currently, no performance standards or test standards exist for neck protection equipment to assure the user that there would be a reduction in the risk of catastrophic neck injury. Additionally, no performance standards or test standards exist to assure that there would not be an increased risk of injury to other portions of the user's body or to the opponent's, and to assure that the equipment would perform adequately from a structural standpoint. Thus, a need arises to develop a standardized method for evaluating neck protection equipment. A proposed method for evaluating such equipment consisting of an analytical screening protocol and a physical test is presented.