Differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse helmets in managing impact energy

Despite being considered the same sport, men’s and women’s lacrosse have two distinct styles of gameplay and involve different protective head equipment. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of men’s and women’s lacrosse helmets to attenuate linear and rotational head accelerations using a laboratory-based testing approach. Design features, including liner thickness and the helmet’s assigned sex, were evaluated for effect on helmet performance. Pendulum impact tests were performed at two locations (front and side) and two speeds (3.1 and 5.2 m/s). Liner thickness was measured at each location’s impact center on all helmet models. A linear mixed-effects regression was used to evaluate peak linear acceleration, peak rotational acceleration, and concussion risk by the helmet’s assigned sex, liner thickness, and impact configuration. Men’s lacrosse helmets experienced lower peak head kinematics than women’s, with notable differences occurring during high-energy impacts. Greater liner thickness was associated with lower concussion risk and peak head kinematics. Overall, the inherent design differences in men’s and women’s lacrosse helmets resulted in a wide range of performances both between and within the helmet’s assigned sex. However, both helmet types were effective at mitigating the head accelerations experienced during common on-field impacts for their respective sports.