Concussions in Australian football codes are a leading cause of injury with one in seven athletes suffering (Richards, 2016). Simply described as a knock to the head, concussions limit the brains functionality. During a collision energy is transferred to an athlete’s head and the consequent effects which causes a concussion can be described by fundamental laws of physics (Broglio, Eckner & Kutcher). Prior to a head knock the brain is initially in a state of inertia, surrounded be Cerebrospinal fluid in the skull (Nordqvist, 2015). Therefore, when a force is exerted towards the head the brain collides with the skull. From Newtons second law, F=ma, force is directly proportional to acceleration thus the greater the force applied the larger the
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As the change of momentum cannot be changed it is seen in a rearrangement of the impulse formula, F=∆p/t , that an increase in time will reduce the force applied, as they are inversely proportional. Biomechanical engineering professor V.Gupta, explored this by identifying that, abrupt collisions in a millionth of a second results with ‘tremendous force’ experienced in comparison to a 30 millisecond collision (Fricano, 2013). This was further, explained by Griffith University Professor in Health Sciences, P. Milburn, who described that the impact of the force on the head ‘lessens’ with the use of a helmet (Milburn, 2014). Consequently, it can be seen that wearing a helmet will reduce the force applied to the brain thus the acceleration will decrease, as force equals mass times acceleration. Hence, even though the brain still collides with the skull the impact of the collision will not be as intense. As a result, the severity of the concussion an athlete suffers is reduced, but it has been seen that helmets give athletes a false sense of …show more content…
This was emphasised in a report by, (Sports Medicine Australia, 2013) that described that wearing helmets potentially increases athletes going ‘head first’ into tackles. Furthermore, a science study by the AFL, with Australian brain experts identified that players ‘mistakenly wear headgear because they think they are protected’ (Johnston, 2012). Through these two examples it is evident that athletes become more prone to be concussed whilst wearing helmets as they think they are protected. This was emphasised by former AFL footballer Jude Bolton, who described from what he has seen in his career, is that helmets make players feel protected to use it like a ‘battering ram’, as a destructive tool (Carlisle, 2014). In addition, AFL officials have, declared that ‘helmets (are) not (to) be used for prevention of concussion” in their elite game (Finch
As the change of momentum cannot be changed it is seen in a rearrangement of the impulse formula, F=∆p/t , that an increase in time will reduce the force applied, as they are inversely proportional. Biomechanical engineering professor V.Gupta, explored this by identifying that, abrupt collisions in a millionth of a second results with ‘tremendous force’ experienced in comparison to a 30 millisecond collision (Fricano, 2013). This was further, explained by Griffith University Professor in Health Sciences, P. Milburn, who described that the impact of the force on the head ‘lessens’ with the use of a helmet (Milburn, 2014). Consequently, it can be seen that wearing a helmet will reduce the force applied to the brain thus the acceleration will decrease, as force equals mass times acceleration. Hence, even though the brain still collides with the skull the impact of the collision will not be as intense. As a result, the severity of the concussion an athlete suffers is reduced, but it has been seen that helmets give athletes a false sense of …show more content…
This was emphasised in a report by, (Sports Medicine Australia, 2013) that described that wearing helmets potentially increases athletes going ‘head first’ into tackles. Furthermore, a science study by the AFL, with Australian brain experts identified that players ‘mistakenly wear headgear because they think they are protected’ (Johnston, 2012). Through these two examples it is evident that athletes become more prone to be concussed whilst wearing helmets as they think they are protected. This was emphasised by former AFL footballer Jude Bolton, who described from what he has seen in his career, is that helmets make players feel protected to use it like a ‘battering ram’, as a destructive tool (Carlisle, 2014). In addition, AFL officials have, declared that ‘helmets (are) not (to) be used for prevention of concussion” in their elite game (Finch