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Proper Fit and Maintenance of Ice-Hockey Helmets

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Proper Fit and Maintenance of Ice-Hockey Helmets INJURY PREVENTION & PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT Patrick Sexton, EdD, ATC, CSCS, Column Editor Proper Fit and Maintenance of Ice-Hockey Helmets Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, CSCS • Arizona School of Health Sciences NE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES as certified Although most ice-hockey helmets are sized based athletic trainers and therapists is to make on hat size (circumference of the head measured 1 in. O the competitive environment as safe as above the eyebrows), it is still necessary for the clini- possible in the hope of reducing the likeli- cian, parent, or coach to make sure the helmet is fitted hood of injury.1 According to the NATA role-delineation properly (see the sidebar).5-7 When one is fitting an study, a subcategory of injury prevention is selecting ice-hockey helmet, the athlete’s hair should be wet to and properly fitting protective equipment.1 In addi- simulate the sweat that he or she would produce during tion, athletic trainers must take steps to ensure that a practice or game. The helmet should be placed on high-quality athletic equipment is being purchased, the athlete with the chin strap fastened and the face constantly worn, maintained, and reconditioned.2 The mask, if mandated, secured. Once the helmet is on, purpose of this column is to describe the proper fit it should sit level on the athlete’s head (Figure 1). The and maintenance of ice-hockey helmets and provide clinician should check that the helmet sits no lower on clinicians educational resources to teach athletes about the forehead than one to two finger widths above the proper care of their equipment. eyebrows and then try to move the helmet to check that it does not move freely, slide, or rotate on the head Fit and Maintenance (Figure 2). If the helmet does rotate or move, it should The helmet’s role is to absorb the kinetic energy from high-mass (athlete) and low-velocity (speed of athlete) collisions, as well as low-mass (puck) and high-velocity Requirements for Proper Fitting (speed of puck) collisions.3 Helmets are designed to of a Hockey Helmet decrease the risk of focal and diffuse head injuries by means of a firm outer shell, intended to distribute • Helmet sits one to two finger widths above the impact loads over larger areas, and a rebound liner, eyebrows. which is intended to absorb the energy from the blow • Helmet sits level on the head. and decelerate the head slowly.4 In order for the helmet • Maximum of two fingers fit between the neck to adequately protect the head, however, it must fit and chin strap. correctly and be maintained properly over time. • If the helmet rotates or moves, it causes the scalp Athletic trainers and therapists should be as profi- to move. cient in fitting a hockey helmet as they are with football • Helmet does not move freely move, slide, or helmets and helmets used in other sports. In settings rotate on the head. where certified equipment managers are not avail- able, such as high schools or lower division colleges, • The face mask fits properly into the J-clips. members of the sports-medicine team might be called • The chin sits in the chin cup. on to make sure that helmets are fitted correctly and Note. Adapted from references 5, 6, and 7. maintained over time. © 2005 Human Kinetics • ATT 10(6), pp. 54-57 54 NOVEMBER 2005 ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY NOVEMBER 2005 55 Figure 3 Proper fit of the chin strap. Figure 1 Front view of a properly fitting helmet. Figure 4 Proper alignment of the J-clips attaching the facemask to the helmet. in the sidebar on the next page. Current recommenda- tions are to replace the helmet every 2–3 years. Unlike football or lacrosse helmets, currently there are no recertification procedures for ice-hockey helmets. Figure 2 Testing the helmet for movement on the head. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) currently has standard do so with the scalp also moving below it. The helmet performance specifications and laboratory procedural itself should not move across the head when being guidelines for newly manufactured helmets and those pushed on or rotated. The chin strap should be checked needing recertification. According to Dr. David Hal- to make sure there are no more than two finger widths stead, technical director for the Biomechanics Impact between the strap and the neck (Figure 3) and that the Research Lab of NOCSAE (personal communication, athlete’s chin sits directly in the chin cup. In fitting a April 30, 2004), however, until the NCAA or other gov- helmet with a face shield, the face shield should fit erning bodies require the use of a certified ice-hockey to allow one finger width between the bottom of the helmet, the standards are of limited value. The best athlete’s chin and the chin cup of the face shield. The possible outcome for hockey-helmet certification and face shield should also be checked to make sure it fits recertification would be for all governing bodies to come properly into the J-clips on the helmet (Figure 4). to a consensus about the issue and develop a certifica- In addition to a proper fit, it is important to evalu- tion and recertification procedure similar to that used ate the helmet’s condition throughout the season and for lacrosse helmets. Until that time, all helmets should from season to season. A sample maintenance check- bear their original certification stickers from the Cana- list using items from the Sports Medicine Council of dian Standards Association or the Hockey Equipment Alberta,5 Hockey Canada,6 and USA Hockey8 is included Certification Council (Figure 5). 54 NOVEMBER 2005 ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY NOVEMBER 2005 55 .
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