Shielding the Skull: Exploring the Influence of Facial Protection, Impact Location and Neck Stiffness on Hockey Helmet Safety During a Linear Impact

Originally designed to mitigate skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries in hockey players, hockey helmets have now become a critical focus for further research due to the rise in mild traumatic brain injuries. With the sport's evolution introducing stronger and faster players, new approaches that incorporate facial shielding in helmet technology and enhance athletes' neck strength are needed to reduce concussion risks. This study pursued two primary objectives. Firstly, it sought to determine if a hockey helmet's stiffness fluctuated at different contact locations during static compression with the inclusion of facial shielding. Secondly, it examined the influence of impact location, facial protection type, and neck stiffness on head injury risk during simulated dynamic impacts, gauged by the Gadd Severity Index (GSI). The findings revealed that helmet stiffness varied across locations, and a significant three-way interaction was observed between facial shielding, impact location, and neckform stiffness level concerning GSI measures at <i>p</i> < 0.05. Further analysis unveiled significant two-way interactions between impact location and facial shielding across neck strength levels at <i>p</i> < 0.05. These outcomes underscore the critical role of facial shielding, neck strength and impact location, in averting brain injuries in hockey. The results carry practical implications for helmet manufacturers, standards bodies, coaches, and players, urging a comprehensive approach to helmet design and player safety.