An observational study of 21 high school football programs wearing the VICIS Zero1 helmet indicated a statistically significant reduction in concussions compared to two previous seasons in which players wore other makes of helmet.
The University of Washington’s Dr. Fred Rivara, a pediatrician and epidemiologist whose pioneering work on bicycle helmets informed global standards, led the study of VICIS helmets through the school’s affiliated Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center.
The VICIS Zero1 has been the top-ranked helmet in NFL and NFLPA laboratory testing for three straight years and has received the highest rating for youth, high school, and college football in testing by Virginia Tech. This new effort was designed to study its effectiveness outside the lab and in real-world situations.
Of the 21 high schools to participate in this study, 20 coaches reported that more than 90 percent of their players wore the Zero1 during the 2018 fall season. In the other school, the figure was between 75 and 89 percent. Last season, those coaches reported 59 concussions (with 57 of those occurring in players wearing the Zero1), representing 7.3 percent of all players.
In 2017, players at those schools suffered 90 concussions (10.6 percent of players), and in 2016, there were 102 concussions (11.9 percent). The Zero1 became available to high school players prior to the 2018 season.
The study also included a coach questionnaire. In 2018, 13 of the coaches said their players generally felt better compared to previous years while the other eight said the players felt about the same.
“Overall, I think this information is suggestive that the helmets seem to lower the impact to the brain and fewer concussions,” Rivara said. “The kids are generally feeling better.”
There are limits to the conclusions that can be drawn from this study, Rivara noted, because this was an observational study and not a randomized trial. He said, though, that he believes the data is accurate because of the general awareness about concussions and the various state laws about taking players out of play.
Rivara, who was also vice-chair of the Institute of Medicine’s 2014 report on sports concussions in youth, said a prospective study with tracking throughout the year would be a good next step to further this research.
“From what the NFL and others have reported is that helmets are really quite good at protecting against skull fractures and more serious kinds of brain injuries,” he said. “The whole question remains about whether they prevent concussions.”
Though VICIS has donated to Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center in the past, Rivara’s study was conducted independently.
“VICIS has in the past donated to the HIPRC to support its outstanding work in pediatric injury prevention,” VICIS CEO Dave Marver wrote in an emailed statement. “We support the HIPRC and other institutions doing similar work, which is consistent with our mission to help protect young athletes. We did not make a donation or provide financial support pertaining to the research on the Zero1 helmet, nor did we direct or influence the research in any fashion.”
As someone who has worked in the field of youth injury prevention for 35 years, Rivara’s message to parents of prospective football players is simple: “I think, first of all, that the parents should make sure that the teams and the coaches are focused on safety,” he said. “I think that that’s key. Football is a game.”