Girls lax helmet. Girls Lacrosse Helmets: Essential Guide to Safety, Comfort, and Performance

How do girls lacrosse helmets enhance player safety. What features should you look for when choosing a helmet. How to ensure proper fit and sizing for optimal protection. Why are more players opting for helmets in women’s lacrosse.

The Rising Popularity of Women’s Lacrosse Helmets

Women’s lacrosse helmets are gaining traction as players and parents recognize the importance of head protection in this dynamic sport. While not mandatory in most leagues, these helmets are designed to mitigate the impact forces of head-on contact, providing an extra layer of safety on the field.

The growing interest in women’s lacrosse helmets stems from increased awareness of sports-related concussions and the desire to enhance player safety. As Cascade Sports, now under the Bauer Hockey umbrella, introduced their LX Headgear, more NCAA programs have voluntarily adopted helmet use, potentially influencing high school and youth levels of the sport.

Safety Standards and Certification

US Lacrosse has established strict safety standards for women’s lacrosse helmets. Any headgear worn must meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) performance standard F3137. This requirement ensures that helmets provide adequate protection against impacts commonly encountered in the sport.

To gain approval, manufacturers must submit comprehensive testing results demonstrating their helmets’ ability to absorb and dissipate impact forces effectively. This rigorous certification process gives players and parents confidence in the protective capabilities of approved helmets.

Key Features of Women’s Lacrosse Helmets

Integrated Goggle Systems

Many women’s lacrosse helmets come with built-in goggle attachments, offering a seamless integration of head and eye protection. This design eliminates the need for separate eyewear and prevents discomfort caused by goggles pressing against the face. Alternatively, some helmet models accommodate standalone protective eyewear without compromising comfort or fit.

Hair-Friendly Design

Recognizing the diverse hairstyles of players, manufacturers have incorporated strategic openings in helmet designs. These allow for various hairstyles, including high and low ponytails and braids, ensuring comfort and personalization without sacrificing protection.

Ventilation for Comfort

To prevent overheating during intense gameplay, women’s lacrosse helmets feature a series of air vents along the top and sides of the outer shell. These ventilation openings promote airflow, keeping players cool and comfortable throughout matches and practice sessions.

Advanced Interior Padding

The interior of women’s lacrosse helmets is equipped with flexible padding that contours to the player’s head shape. This adaptive padding is designed to absorb and distribute impact forces effectively, enhancing protection while maintaining comfort.

Sizing and Fit: Ensuring Optimal Protection

Proper sizing and fit are crucial for maximizing the protective benefits of a lacrosse helmet. Helmet models come in two main sizing categories: multiple sizes and one-size-fits-all options.

Multiple Sizes

For helmets available in various sizes, players need to measure their head circumference. This measurement is taken around the largest portion of the head, approximately an inch above the eyebrows. Typically, small/medium sizes accommodate head circumferences between 18″ to 21.5″, while large sizes fit 21.5″ and above.

Even within specific sizes, many helmets offer adjustable features for a more customized fit. Look for models with adjustable dials that allow fine-tuning for a snug, secure fit.

One-Size-Fits-All Options

Helmets designed as one-size-fits-all incorporate more adjustable features to ensure a proper fit for various head sizes. These may include:

• Rear adjustable straps for tightening to specific head circumferences
• Interchangeable cheek pad sets in different sizes for a secure facial fit

To determine if your lacrosse helmet fits correctly, perform a simple shake test. The helmet should remain snug on your head without sliding or moving when you shake your head. The padding should provide firm, even pressure without causing discomfort.

The Impact of Helmets on Women’s Lacrosse

The introduction of helmets in women’s lacrosse has sparked discussions about player safety and potential changes to the game’s dynamics. Some argue that helmets may lead to more aggressive play, while others emphasize the importance of protection in a sport involving fast-moving projectiles and potential stick contact.

As more players adopt helmets, it’s crucial to monitor how this equipment affects gameplay, injury rates, and overall player experience. Ongoing research and feedback from players, coaches, and medical professionals will help shape future helmet designs and regulations.

Choosing the Right Helmet: Factors to Consider

When selecting a women’s lacrosse helmet, several factors should be taken into account:

1. Safety certification: Ensure the helmet meets ASTM F3137 standards
2. Fit and adjustability: Look for models that offer a secure, customizable fit
3. Ventilation: Consider helmets with effective airflow systems for comfort during play
4. Goggle compatibility: Choose between integrated goggle systems or helmets that accommodate separate eyewear
5. Weight: Opt for lightweight designs that don’t hinder performance
6. Visibility: Ensure the helmet doesn’t obstruct peripheral vision
7. Style and color options: While secondary to safety, personal preference in appearance can boost confidence

Maintenance and Care for Lacrosse Helmets

Proper maintenance of your lacrosse helmet is essential for ensuring its long-term effectiveness and hygiene. Here are some tips for caring for your helmet:

• Clean the helmet regularly with mild soap and water
• Avoid using harsh chemicals that could degrade the helmet materials
• Inspect the helmet periodically for signs of wear or damage
• Replace any worn or damaged components promptly
• Store the helmet in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
• Consider using antimicrobial sprays to prevent odor-causing bacteria

By following these maintenance practices, you can extend the life of your helmet and ensure it continues to provide optimal protection throughout your lacrosse career.

The Future of Women’s Lacrosse Helmets

As technology advances and our understanding of sports-related head injuries improves, we can expect continued innovation in women’s lacrosse helmet design. Future developments may include:

• Lighter, stronger materials for enhanced protection without added weight
• Smart helmet technologies that can track and analyze impacts
• Improved ventilation systems for better temperature regulation
• More customizable fit options to accommodate a wider range of head shapes and sizes
• Integration with other protective gear for a more comprehensive safety system

These advancements will likely contribute to increased adoption of helmets in women’s lacrosse, potentially leading to changes in equipment regulations and playing styles.

The Debate: Mandatory Helmets in Women’s Lacrosse

The question of whether helmets should be mandatory in women’s lacrosse continues to be a topic of debate among players, coaches, parents, and governing bodies. Proponents argue that mandatory helmets would significantly reduce the risk of head injuries, especially as the sport becomes increasingly competitive and physical.

On the other hand, opponents worry that mandating helmets could fundamentally change the nature of the women’s game, potentially leading to more aggressive play and altering traditional skills and strategies. They also point out that the current rules and equipment requirements have been designed to minimize the risk of head injuries.

To address this debate, further research is needed to assess the impact of helmet use on injury rates, playing styles, and overall player safety. This data will be crucial in informing future decisions about equipment regulations in women’s lacrosse.

Potential Impacts of Mandatory Helmets

If helmets were to become mandatory in women’s lacrosse, several changes could occur:

• Increased focus on developing helmets specifically designed for the women’s game
• Potential modifications to rules and gameplay to accommodate helmeted players
• Changes in coaching strategies and player techniques
• Possible increase in participation rates due to enhanced safety measures
• Economic impacts on players, teams, and equipment manufacturers

As the sport continues to evolve, it’s crucial for all stakeholders to engage in open dialogue about the role of helmets in women’s lacrosse, balancing tradition with player safety and the sport’s long-term growth.

Empowering Players: Making Informed Decisions About Helmet Use

While helmets remain optional in most women’s lacrosse leagues, players are increasingly empowered to make informed decisions about their use. This shift towards personal choice in protective gear reflects a growing awareness of individual safety needs and preferences.

Factors Influencing Player Decisions

When deciding whether to wear a helmet, players may consider various factors:

• Personal history of head injuries or concussions
• Playing position and style (e.g., defensive players may be more inclined to wear helmets)
• Level of competition and intensity of play
• Team and coach perspectives on helmet use
• Parental input, especially for younger players
• Comfort and perceived impact on performance

By weighing these factors, players can make choices that align with their individual needs and comfort levels, potentially enhancing their confidence and enjoyment of the game.

Promoting a Culture of Safety

Regardless of individual decisions about helmet use, promoting a culture of safety in women’s lacrosse is paramount. This can be achieved through:

• Comprehensive education on concussion awareness and prevention
• Proper technique training to minimize the risk of head injuries
• Regular equipment checks and maintenance
• Open communication between players, coaches, and parents about safety concerns
• Continuous evaluation and improvement of safety protocols and equipment standards

By fostering an environment that prioritizes player safety while respecting individual choices, the women’s lacrosse community can work together to ensure the sport’s continued growth and success.

Integrating Helmets into Team Strategies

As more players opt to wear helmets, coaches and teams are adapting their strategies to capitalize on this equipment choice. While the fundamental skills and tactics of women’s lacrosse remain unchanged, the presence of helmets can influence certain aspects of gameplay and team dynamics.

Tactical Considerations

Coaches may need to adjust their approach in several areas:

• Defensive strategies: Helmeted players may be more confident in close-quarters defense
• Offensive plays: Teams might develop new formations or plays that take advantage of increased head protection
• Transition game: The potential for more physical play could impact fast-break strategies
• Set pieces: Draw controls and free position shots may see tactical shifts with helmeted players

Team Cohesion and Equipment Uniformity

With some players opting for helmets while others choose not to wear them, teams may face challenges in maintaining visual uniformity and team identity. Coaches and administrators can address this by:

• Establishing clear team policies on helmet use
• Incorporating helmet designs into overall team branding
• Ensuring non-helmeted players have complementary protective gear styles
• Fostering a team culture that respects individual choices while maintaining unity

By thoughtfully integrating helmets into team strategies and identity, coaches can help players feel confident and cohesive regardless of their equipment choices.

The Role of Education in Helmet Adoption

As the debate around helmet use in women’s lacrosse continues, education plays a crucial role in helping players, parents, and coaches make informed decisions. Comprehensive educational initiatives can address various aspects of helmet use and overall safety in the sport.

Key Educational Components

Effective education programs should cover:

• The science behind head injuries in lacrosse
• Proper helmet fitting and maintenance techniques
• The benefits and potential limitations of helmet use
• Alternative safety measures and injury prevention strategies
• The impact of equipment choices on playing style and team dynamics

Implementing Educational Initiatives

To ensure widespread understanding of helmet-related issues, the lacrosse community can:

• Develop online resources and training modules for players, coaches, and parents
• Incorporate safety education into coaching certifications and player development programs
• Host workshops and seminars at lacrosse events and conferences
• Collaborate with equipment manufacturers to provide accurate, up-to-date information
• Engage medical professionals and safety experts to contribute to educational content

By prioritizing education, the women’s lacrosse community can foster a more informed and safety-conscious environment, regardless of individual choices about helmet use.

The Economic Impact of Helmet Adoption

The increasing adoption of helmets in women’s lacrosse has significant economic implications for various stakeholders in the sport. Understanding these impacts can help the lacrosse community prepare for potential changes and opportunities.

Effects on Players and Families

The introduction of helmets as optional or mandatory equipment can impact players and their families:

• Increased equipment costs for individual players
• Potential financial barriers to entry for new players
• Opportunities for financial assistance or equipment sharing programs

Impact on Equipment Manufacturers

The helmet market for women’s lacrosse presents both challenges and opportunities for manufacturers:

• Increased demand for women’s-specific helmet designs
• Investment in research and development for innovative safety technologies
• Potential for new market entrants and increased competition
• Shifts in production and marketing strategies to address the evolving market

Effects on Teams and Leagues

The adoption of helmets can have financial implications for lacrosse organizations:

• Potential increases in team equipment budgets
• Insurance considerations related to helmet use and injury prevention
• Sponsorship opportunities with helmet manufacturers
• Possible impacts on league fees and player registration costs

By considering these economic factors, the women’s lacrosse community can work towards solutions that balance safety, accessibility, and the sport’s long-term growth.

How to Buy Women’s Lacrosse Helmets

Designed to lower the impact forces of head-on contact, it’s easy to see why women’s lacrosse helmets are growing in popularity. As an optional piece of equipment in most leagues, it is frequently up to players if they want to wear one. If you choose to make a lacrosse helmet part of your go-to gear, here are some things to know.

STANDARDS

US Lacrosse requires any headgear worn to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) performance standard F3137. Manufacturers have to submit testing results in order to be approved.

FEATURES

GOGGLES
One of the mandated pieces of equipment in women’s lacrosse is protective eyewear. If you choose to wear a helmet, there are two options for correlating eyewear. Some helmets are manufactured with a built-in goggle attachment. With this integrated system, only one piece of gear is needed and because of the design of the mask, your eye protection won’t be pressing against your face.

The other style of helmet does not cover any parts of the face and are designed to accommodate your favorite eyewear without causing discomfort.

HAIR AND VENTILATION HOLES
In order to accommodate players with longer hair, many lacrosse helmets feature openings throughout the design to allow for players to sport a variety of hairstyles you feel best wearing during gametime, from high and low ponytails to braids.

Along with hair openings, helmets typically feature a series of air vents along the top and sides of the outer shell. These ventilation openings help to accelerate airflow, keeping players cool and comfortable.

FLEXIBLE INTERIOR PADDING
Along the interior of women’s lacrosse helmets is padding made up of material that contours easily to the shape and movements of a player’s head. The flexibility of the padding is designed to help absorb and disperse impact that may occur while on the field.

SIZING

The sizing of your lacrosse helmet will vary between different models. Some helmet styles come in multiple sizes that are based on head circumference. Others are created to be one-size-fits-all. Understanding how to size and adjust your helmet can help you get the right fit before your lacrosse season starts.

MULTIPLE SIZES
To choose from helmet models that come in a range of sizes, you will need to know the circumference of your head. To measure it, wrap a flexible tape measure or string around the largest portion of your head – this will be about an inch above your eyebrows. A small/medium sized helmet will typically fit heads that fall into the range of about 18″ to 21.5″ while a head with a circumference of 21.5″ and above will usually fit into a large.

Even helmets with multiple sizes will often have features that allow you to get a more customized fit. Use the adjustable dial to get a snug fit that stays in place.

ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
Helmets that come in one size tend to include more adjustable features to ensure that you get the fit that you need. A rear adjustable strap is available to help players tighten to their head circumference. In addition, interchangeable cheek pad sets come in different sizes to help keep the helmet secure on your face.

You can determine if your lacrosse helmet is fitting properly by taking note when you move around. The helmet should fit snug on your head and not slide or move when you shake The padding of the helmet should offer firm, even pressure. It should have a tight fit, but not to the point that it causes discomfort.

Although helmets are not yet required in most women’s leagues, some players may feel more comfortable with that extra piece of protective gear. Headgear comes in a few different styles, but protecting yourself on the field is always in fashion.

Women’s Lacrosse Headgear brings new Confidence and Protection to the game.

“Finally, They’re starting to take notice!” That’s what a lot of concerned parents are saying about protective headgear for Women’s Lacrosse.  As much as I believe that women should play with a similar helmet to men, I also understand that there’s the school of thought that believes this will cause a more aggressive game. But the facts are that concussions are on the rise in all sports and the gear companies are trying to develop the safety equipment as quick as possible. One of these companies on the forefront is Cascade Sports, now under the Bauer Hockey umbrella. Cascade turned the game on its head with their LX Headgear last season, even though it initially met with a lukewarm reception it has started to gain popularity going into the 2018 season with many NCAA programs voluntarily wearing the LX for protection, which hopefully will cause a trickle down effect into the HS and Youth areas of the sport.

Lacrosse is a sport that involves flailing metal sticks and a hard rubber ball that can be hurled at speeds over 100 mph. But while the violent style of the men’s game requires players to protect their bodies with pads and their heads with helmets, the women’s game, designed to be less rough, calls for only safety goggles and mouth guards. That difference has become a matter of controversy as public concern grows over sports-related concussions. Two state legislators in lacrosse-crazy Maryland introduced a bill in 2013 to require girls’ lacrosse helmets but withdrew it after coaches protested that the measure would change a game of speed and dexterity into a contest of brute force.

“The beauty of the girls game is it’s a lot more finesse, not bodies slamming and slashing and stick violations,” is what most women’s coaches will say. “The take is once you start with a helmet, girls are going to think, ‘Now I can go harder.'”
That’s what some observers believe happened in 2004, when U.S. Lacrosse, the sport’s governing body, began requiring female players to wear goggles designed to prevent eye injuries.

“It became a little more of a physical game, Girls were taking checks a little closer to the head than normal, purely because players were thinking, ‘Oh, she’s protected.’ After that, the refs got more involved and the game went back to normal. ” So was the consensus of USA Lacrosse.

The 2004 change took place in the midst of a fourfold rise in the reported concussion rate among high school girls’ lacrosse players. Ann Carpenetti, managing director of game administration for U.S. Lacrosse, said the reasons for that aren’t clear, though suspicions center on rougher play as well as increased vigilance about the injury.
The rules of girl’s lacrosse allow athletes to wear soft headgear such as padded headbands and “scrum caps” — thin foam helmets donned by some rugby players — to prevent cuts. Carpenetti, though, said there is no evidence to suggest that such equipment reduces the risk of concussions.”If we’re going to have an allowance that says you can wear soft headgear, we have a responsibility to research it,” she said.

That led to an experiment conducted last year by Joseph Crisco, a professor of orthopedics at Brown University. Following research that found that most concussions in the girls game are the result of sticks to the head, he invited young players to his lab to whack a crash dummy head with lacrosse sticks so he could measure the impact of their blows. The girls hit the head hard enough to bend their aluminum sticks, a show of force Crisco said would rarely occur in the real world, but the average impact was only about 70 on the Gadd Severity Index, a measurement developed by the auto industry to predict traumatic brain injuries such as a fractured cranium or internal bleeding.

That’s a pretty low number; football helmets are designed to withstand impacts as high as 1,200 GSI, a level of protection that prevents about 95 percent of catastrophic head injuries. However, Crisco said that doesn’t tell the full story. Concussions, he noted, aren’t detected through physical evidence like a cracked skull but through symptoms such as headache, amnesia and confusion. Much about the injury remains unknown, including the force required to produce one.
“We know that helmets don’t protect against (all) concussions,” he said. “Whether they can reduce the number in girls lacrosse, we don’t know the answer to that. They would reduce the severity of impact, but we don’t know if that would be enough. “Nonetheless, U.S. Lacrosse is planning to draft technical standards for female protective headgear. That should be done by early 2014, Carpenetti said, allowing sporting goods companies to develop models that, with luck, might be available by 2016. She added, however, that she expects any new headgear to remain optional for the foreseeable future. “I don’t think there’s a silver bullet,” she said. “Nobody thinks there’s a silver bullet to concussions.”

Cascade LX Headgear is specifically designed for the women’s game with proven protection and lightweight ventilated design making it easy to stay protected on the field, unlike Rugby headgear that was used by some in the past to combat concussion, the LX has integrated the goggle right into the girls’ lacrosse helmet for little to no movement. The liner of the LX features Poron XRD, a foam that dissipates forces experienced upon impact. The shell is tough on impact but flexible enough to not cause injury to an unprotected player.

Confident, Protected, Happy.  Chances are if you ask players you’ll hear these words included when they talk about the new women’s lacrosse headgear. (Just watch the video below) In the minds of many the time has come and the technology is right on track. What better time to start a Revolution?

Mar 20th 2018 Chad H.

New Research Provides Data on Women’s Headgear Use

New Research Provides Data on Women’s Headgear Use

Fri Jan 8 2021 | Paul Ohanian | High School

PHOTO BY JOHN STROHSACKER

Findings from a new research study measuring the effects of headgear in high school girls lacrosse indicate that headgear is associated with a reduction in the magnitude of overall impacts but not a change in the rate of impacts, how they occur, or how penalties were administered for impacts sustained during competition.

The findings were recently published in an article in The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 

The research team included two members of US Lacrosse Sports Science & Safety Committee, Dr. Shane Caswell of George Mason University, and Dr. Andrew Lincoln of MedStar Health Research Institute. The researchers monitored 49 high school players over the course of two seasons; one season with no headgear used and the second with headgear that meets ASTM standard F3137. 

All the players were from one high school in Virginia’s Prince William County, and no concussions were diagnosed in either season. Wearable sensors synchronized with video verification were used to collect data. 

“Collectively, these findings provide preliminary evidence that wearing lacrosse headgear meeting the ASTM F3137 performance standard does not appreciably change game-play behaviors, while it does reduce the magnitude of head accelerations associated with body impacts sustained during high school girls’ lacrosse,” Caswell said.

In their published article, Caswell and his cohorts noted, “The use of lacrosse headgear was associated with a significant reduction in the magnitude of overall impacts sustained during game play. However, the clinical significance of this reduction remains unknown, as it was largely driven by body impacts, and we observed no such reduction in magnitude when examining only verified impacts directly striking the head.” 

The researchers also expressed the need for further research with larger study populations to validate their findings. 

With significant leadership from US Lacrosse, the ASTM headgear standard was developed to help reduce impact forces associated with stick and ball contact in women’s lacrosse. Approved in 2015, it was the first-ever performance standard for women’s lacrosse headgear.

While the optional use of headgear had always been allowed in the rules, US Lacrosse updated its playing rules in 2017 by requiring that any headgear used must meet the new ASTM standard. Girls’ headgear use remains voluntary for players at all levels of play. Only Florida currently requires headgear use for state sanctioned high school play, and that headgear must meet the ASTM standard. 

The recent study acknowledged that opinions vary regarding the effectiveness of women’s lacrosse headgear and possible associated changes in game play that may increase the risk of injury. Advocates believe that headgear use will decrease the severity of impacts and reduce the risk of head injuries, including concussions. Opponents maintain that headgear use will change the tenor of the women’s game, resulting in risk compensation and increased aggressive game-play behaviors.

“Our findings suggest that anecdotal concerns about headgear causing a ‘gladiator effect’ may not translate to game play,” Caswell said.

The researchers noted that, as a whole, their observations revealed that headgear use among high school girls’ varsity lacrosse players did not result in increased impacts or changes in game-play behaviors. Furthermore, the addition of headgear resulted in no changes in the frequency of penalties administered for illegal game play by officials.

“Our goal with this research was to help address the debate within the lacrosse community regarding the intended benefits and potential adverse consequences of women’s lacrosse headgear,” Lincoln said. “Our understanding of sports concussion and best practices for players’ health and well-being is continually evolving.”

“This research, and continued studies and collaboration with the sports science community, are essential to our policies and positions to enhance safety in the game,” said Caitlin Kelley, women’s lacrosse director at US Lacrosse. “We look to the experts and the data to inform our decisions on rules and equipment for play. We are so appreciative of the research that helps us best understand the specific needs of the women’s game and how best to protect players.”

US Lacrosse is among the funding entities for another research study, now in progress, measuring the effectiveness of women’s headgear in minimizing the risk of injury among high school girls players. That study, launched in 2019 but suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hopes to resume data collection this spring with results announced later in 2021.

Are high school girls’ lacrosse players at increased risk of concussion because they are not allowed to wear the same helmet boys’ lacrosse players are required to wear? | Injury Epidemiology

Both boys’ and girls’ LAX players catch a hard, rapidly moving ball using a stick with a webbed head frequently positioned near the player’s head to maintain ball possession, but substantial differences between the sports exist, with the sphere rule intended to protect against stick strikes to the head in girls’ LAX (Kelley 2018; US Lacrosse n.d.-b). Unfortunately, our observations indicate the sphere rule, as currently enforced, does not effectively prevent concussions resulting from contact with a stick in girls’ LAX. Thus, any increase in concussions sustained by stick or ball contact in girls’ LAX compared to boys’ LAX can reasonably be assumed to be related to the fact that girls are less protected from stick or ball impacts to the head because they are not allowed to wear the hard shell helmet mandated in boys’ LAX.

Based on our findings, playing girls’ LAX is a risk factor for concussion from stick or ball impacts. The rate of concussions sustained from stick or ball contact was 2.60 times higher among girls than boys. Additionally, the AR% indicates 61.5% of concussions sustained from stick or ball contact in girls’ LAX were attributed to girls not wearing the same hard shell helmet mandated in boys’ LAX. Thus, we estimate 44.7% of all concussions in girls’ LAX could have been prevented if girls were also required to wear these helmets. Even if better enforcement of the sphere rule could effectively prevent all stick strikes, when we looked only at the effectiveness of headgear in preventing concussions sustained from contact with the ball, we estimated nearly a quarter of all concussions in girls’ LAX could have been prevented if girls wore the same helmet required in boys’ LAX. Our study appears to be the first to utilize the AR%, a tool which can be used to drive targeted prevention efforts by identifying what percent of an outcome of interest can be attributed to one risk factor compared to others (Peterson et al. 2013; McKinney et al. 2017), to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific piece of protective equipment in reducing sports related injury, in this case evaluating headgear rules in high school LAX.

For nearly three decades whether the helmets required in men’s/boys’ LAX should also be required in women’s/girls’ LAX has been debated in the lay media (Pennington 2016; Miele 2017), by policy makers (Bull and Cavanaugh 2016; NFHS 2019b), and in discussion sections of peer-review publications (Lapidus et al. 1992; Harmer 1993; Diamond and Gale 2001; Otago et al. 2007; Dick et al. 2007; Lincoln et al. 2007; Xiang et al. 2014; Warner et al. 2018; Pierpoint et al. 2019a, 2019b). This ongoing debate motivated Acabchuk and Johnson to publish a manuscript which included a table titled “Relevant evidence to counter each argument against the use of helmets in women’s lacrosse” which described several arguments against helmets and, for each, provided “Evidence and/or arguments against rationale” (Acabchuk and Johnson 2017). The fact that hard shell helmets with full face masks are mandated for males demonstrates LAX sport’s US governing bodies (e.g., US Lacrosse, NCAA, NFHS) have acknowledged that male players are at risk of head/face injury, including concussion, and that they believe the hard shell LAX helmet is effective at reducing injury risk. Prior studies have demonstrated female LAX players are also at risk of head/face injury, including concussion (Marar et al. 2012; Warner et al. 2018; Barber Foss et al. 2018; Pierpoint et al. 2019a, 2019b). The main gender difference in LAX concussions is not the incidence of injury, but rather the mechanism of injury, with males most often sustaining concussions from athlete-athlete contact and females most often sustaining concussions from stick or ball contact (Lincoln et al. 2007; Xiang et al. 2014; Warner et al. 2018; Pierpoint et al. 2019a, 2019b). Although the hard shell helmets mandated in men’s/boys’ LAX have been demonstrated to be effective at reducing head injury potential from ball strikes (Rodowicz et al. 2015), these helmets are still prohibited in girls’ LAX (US Lacrosse n.d.-b). So, why aren’t females also required to wear this effective protective equipment?

“Sports culture” can be a serious impediment to athlete health and safety interventions, even when the intervention is a piece of effective and readily available protective equipment. A historical example relevant to the debate over LAX headgear is eye protection in field hockey. In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommended that protective eyewear be worn by all participants in sports like field hockey (AAP 2004). In the 2011–12 academic year, the NFHS mandated protective eyewear in field hockey (NFHS 2018), and research demonstrated the eyewear mandate in high school field hockey effectively reduced injury without unintended consequences (Kriz et al. 2012; Kriz et al. 2015). However other US field hockey governing bodies have resisted following the NFHS’ lead. People deeply embedded in sports culture often argue against changes in protective equipment due to fears that such measures will either change the culture of the sport, or unintentionally increase injury rates. Given the continued presence of these concerns despite a lack of supporting empirical data, we believe an evidence-based discussion surrounding the controversial issue of use of helmets in the context of girls’ LAX is warranted.

As noted above and in the introduction, epidemiologic research clearly shows girls’ LAX players sustain head/face injuries, including concussions. Further, because women’s/girls’ LAX rules mandate eyewear and mouthguard use, and as of 2017, allow the optional use of headgear meeting a new standard “developed to decrease ball-to-head and stick-to-head impact forces” (US Lacrosse n.d.-a; US Lacrosse n.d.-b), US LAX itself acknowledges that female LAX players are at risk of head/face injury and that the incidence and/or severity of such head/face injury may be reduced through use of protective equipment. It follows logically that if female LAX players are sustaining blows to the head/face that place them at risk of eye or dental injuries, these same blows to the head/face may also place them at risk of other head/face injuries, including concussion.

Our results show that allowing helmets in girls’ lacrosse would lower risk of concussion due to contact with the stick or ball. However, a real concern for public health professionals, shared by those in the sports community, is that in the process of implementing efforts to prevent one health issue, a new health issue may inadvertently be introduced or other health issues may be exacerbated. The only way to determine whether this concern is valid is to measure the prevalence of potential consequences before and after an intervention. In girls’ LAX, such research has been precluded to date because helmets are not allowed, though we can draw expectations from surrogates. For example, mandating hard shell helmet use in male LAX did not lead to an unacceptable level of unintended consequences because these helmets are still mandated, and retaining the helmet mandate if it had increased rather than decreased injury risk would have been unethical. We can reasonably conclude that introducing helmets in female LAX would likely not unacceptably increase injury risk if it did not do so in male LAX. A similar argument (that protective eyewear would actually increase injury risk) raised in opposition to the mandate of eyewear in female LAX, was proven unfounded by research showing no unintended consequences followed the eyewear mandate (Lincoln et al. 2012). Additionally, studies of the introduction of a high school field hockey eyewear mandate showed decreased injury rates without unintended consequences (Kriz et al. 2012; 2015). Finally, we can look at research on other sports such as a study of skiing and snowboarding injuries which concluded helmets clearly decreased risk of injury without any unintended consequences such as increased neck injuries (Haider et al. 2012). Although we should not expect an unacceptable increase in injuries if hard shell helmets are mandated in girls’ LAX, the only way to conclusively evaluate this concern is to introduce hard shell helmets and then monitor for unintended outcomes. If unintended consequences are observed, then hard shell helmets should be not be required.

An argument, frequently referred to as the “gladiator effect,” posits that once protective equipment is donned, athletes will feel a false sense of security and will play more aggressively and take greater risks, thus increasing injury rates. For example, the NFHS’ Soft Headgear in Non-Helmeted Sports Position Statement reads, “The use of soft headgear may produce unintended consequences, including providing a false sense of security to athletes. While a recent study shows that the use of soft headgear in soccer players did not result in an increase in other injuries, a false sense of security may result in athletes, coaches, and parents/ guardians, placing less emphasis upon other strategies that include, but are not limited to: avoidance of head impact and foul play, concussion education, and the immediate reporting of concussion symptoms.” (NFHS 2019b). There do not appear to be peer-reviewed publications reporting evidence to support this argument. Rather, a body of refuting evidence concludes there is no increase in risk taking behavior and/or injury rates associated with use of protective equipment (Lund and O’Neil 1986; Scott et al. 2007; Cusimano and Kwok 2010; Ouellet 2011; Haider et al. 2012; Ruedl et al. 2012; Brunner et al. 2015; Ruedl et al. 2019). The most pertinent examples include an RCT which found no increase in injuries, including concussion, among high school soccer players randomized to wear headgear (McGuine et al. 2019) and a study of the eyewear mandate in girls’ LAX which concluded “overall injury rates do not indicate rougher play with introduction of protective equipment” (Lincoln et al. 2012). Additionally, because hard shell helmets are still mandated in boys’ LAX, no appreciable gladiator effect resulting from their adoption must have occurred. Further, there is no evidence that females, traditionally described as playing less aggressively than males, would be expected to become more aggressive than their male counterparts should they be allowed to wear helmets. Also, if athletes truly believed protective equipment could enable them to play harder, we would expect near universal adoption of optional equipment because athletes want to play at their highest level. Yet, across sports, few athletes adopt optional protective equipment (e.g., few baseball pitchers wear head protection, few rugby players wear scrumcaps, few college field hockey players wear eyewear, and to date few female LAX players wear the newly available headgear). Finally coaches and officials have the ability to control rough/reckless play through reprimands, penalties, game ejections, and suspensions – in other words, by enforcing the rules. In short, the only way girls’ LAX players could exhibit the gladiator effect is if LAX coaches, officials, and policy makers allow them to violate the rules of play.

Finally, both sexes play with hard, fast moving lacrosse balls and sticks, yet headgear standards are vastly different. Although US LAX governing bodies have revised their rules to allow females to wear an optional piece of protective equipment (a flexible headgear), with the intention of reducing impacts due to ball and stick contact, they do not mandate their use. There is no evidence to indicate the hard shell helmet with full face mask currently mandated in boys’ LAX would not provide similar protection from stick and ball strikes in girls’ LAX, thus making irrelevant the new flexible headgear.

Limitations

Like all studies, ours had limitations, largely associated with the data source. High School RIO captures LAX data from a convenience sample of schools with ATs and thus, our findings may not be generalizable to all US high schools with LAX teams. Concussion reporting was at the discretion of the individual AT and a uniform study definition of concussion was not provided, which may lead some to question the accuracy of the reported concussion data. However, ATs have proven to be highly reliable reporters of sports-related injuries, particularly concussions (Lombardi et al. 2016). In High School RIO, exposures are captured as number of AEs rather than hours or minutes of participation which prohibits more exact time-based injury rates. It is not reasonable to expect high school ATs, who are not present at all practices and competitions for all sports, can accurately capture minutes of practice and competition exposures for all athletes in all sports.

An additional limitation is our inability to evaluate the recent introduction of the optional flexible shelled LAX headgear on concussion rates in girls’ LAX. The headgear was first marketed in 2016, and US LAX only made it the only option for players seeking head protection in 2017 (prior to that girls’ LAX players could wear soft headgear designed for other sports). Between the product’s newness and the fact that its use is only optional, it is unclear whether or not the flexible shelled headgear is protective against concussions from stick and ball impacts. If epidemiologic studies establish that the flexible shelled headgear is effective, it should be mandatory protective equipment. To date, no evaluation of the effectiveness of this optional piece of equipment in preventing concussion has been published in the scientific literature.

Despite these limitations, this study contributes important information to the body of knowledge on the relative risk of concussion in girls’ and boys’ LAX and is novel for utilization of the AR% to evaluate concussions resulting from ball or stick impacts associated with the different gendered helmet rules.

The Effects of Headgear in High School Girls’ Lacrosse

Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Dec; 8(12): 2325967120969685.

, PhD, LAT, ATC,^*†, PhD, LAT, ATC,^†‡, ScD,^§∥, MD, PhD, CAQSM,^¶, PhD,^§, PhD,^＃, MS,^§ and , PhD^†

Shane V. Caswell

^†Sports Medicine Assessment Research and Testing (SMART) Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

Patricia M. Kelshaw

^†Sports Medicine Assessment Research and Testing (SMART) Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

^‡Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.

Andrew E. Lincoln

^§MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, MedStar Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

^∥Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

Daniel C. Herman

^¶Divisions of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, and Research, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Lisa H. Hepburn

^§MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, MedStar Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Heather K. Vincent

^#Human Performance Laboratory and Sports Performance Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Reginald E. Dunn

^§MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, MedStar Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Nelson Cortes

^†Sports Medicine Assessment Research and Testing (SMART) Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

^†Sports Medicine Assessment Research and Testing (SMART) Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

^‡Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.

^§MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, MedStar Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

^∥Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

^¶Divisions of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, and Research, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

^#Human Performance Laboratory and Sports Performance Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Investigation performed at the Sports Medicine Assessment Research and Testing (SMART) Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA

^*Shane V. Caswell, PhD, LAT, ATC, SMART Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, George Mason University, 10890 George Mason Circle, Katherine Johnson Hall 221, MSN 4E5, Manassas, VA 20110, USA (email: ude.umg@llewsacs) (Twitter: @SMARTLabGMU).

Received 2020 Jun 4; Accepted 2020 Jun 17.

Abstract

Background:

Girls’ lacrosse headgear that met the ASTM International performance standard (ASTM F3137) became available in 2017. However, the effects of headgear use on impact forces during game play are unknown.

Purpose:

To evaluate potential differences in rates, magnitudes, and game-play characteristics associated with verified impacts among players with and without headgear during competition.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 49 female high school participants (mean age, 16.2 ± 1.2 years; mean height, 1.66 ± 0.05 m; mean weight, 61.2 ± 6.4 kg) volunteered for this study, which took place during the 2016 (no headgear; 18 games) and 2017 (headgear; 15 games) seasons. Wearable sensors synchronized with video verification were used. Descriptive statistics, impact rates, and chi-square analyses described impacts and game-play characteristics among players with and without headgear. Differences in mean peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational velocity (PRV) between the no headgear and headgear conditions were evaluated using a linear generalized estimating equation regression model to control for repeated within-player measurements.

Results:

Overall, 649 sensor-instrumented player-games were recorded. A total of 204 impacts ≥20g recorded by the wearable sensors were verified with video analysis (102 no headgear; 102 headgear). Most impacts were imparted to the player’s body (n = 152; 74.5%) rather than to the player’s head (n = 52; 25.5%). Impact rates per player-game did not vary between the no headgear and headgear conditions (0.30 vs 0.34, respectively; impact rate ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.37-2.08]). There was no association between impact frequency by mechanism or penalties administered between the no headgear and headgear conditions for overall or direct head impacts. The generalized estimating equation model estimated a significant reduction in mean impact magnitudes overall (PLA: –7. 9g [95% CI, –13.3 to –2.5]; PRV: –212 deg/s [95% CI, –359 to –64]) with headgear relative to no headgear. No game-related concussions were reported during this study.

Conclusion:

Lacrosse headgear use was associated with a reduction in the magnitude of overall impacts but not a significant change in the rate of impacts, how they occur, or how penalties were administered for impacts sustained during competition. Further research is needed with a larger sample and different levels of play to evaluate the consequences of headgear use in girls’ lacrosse.

Keywords: helmets, women’s lacrosse, effectiveness

Girls’ lacrosse is the fastest growing team sport among National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) member schools in the United States.^20,30 Concurrent with its increasing popularity is a greater reporting of head injuries.^3,12,17 Although girls’ lacrosse is an incidental contact sport, recent studies incorporating sensor technology and video surveillance have characterized head impacts⁶ and head injuries. ⁵ These concerns have contributed to the recent development of interventions to reduce this risk of injury in girls’ lacrosse.

Most concussions in girls’ lacrosse occur during games from stick or ball impacts.^5,6 To help mitigate this threat, a performance standard (ASTM F3137) for girls’ lacrosse headgear was developed to reduce game-related impacts in non-goaltending field players.¹ The headgear became commercially available in 2017 as optional equipment according to US Lacrosse and NFHS rule books.³³ The specification indicates that the use of lacrosse headgear meeting the ASTM International performance standard may decrease the severity of impacts from a stick, the ball, another player, the ground, or other objects.¹ Protective equipment (eg, helmets) in sports other than lacrosse has been shown to reduce head impact magnitudes and the number of head and facial injuries.^10,16

Considerable debate exists among the lacrosse community regarding the intended benefits and potential adverse consequences of women’s lacrosse headgear. ^24,28,31 Advocates propose that headgear use will decrease the severity of impacts and reduce the risk of injury.³² Opponents allude to the Peltzman effect,²³ first coined in automobile safety research, which argues that when increased safety measures are implemented, at least some of their benefits will be offset by increased risky behavior. Similarly, headgear opponents predict that any benefits of headgear will be counteracted by more aggressive game-play and risk-compensation behaviors by players.²⁵ Yet, the novelty of women’s lacrosse headgear, coupled with a lack of rigorous research, has hampered the ability to inform policy makers and health care providers regarding appropriate recommendations about headgear for general sport use. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to determine whether differences in the rates and magnitudes of impacts to the head and other areas of the body occurred in players with and without headgear during competition. The secondary aims were to determine if the distribution of impact mechanisms and penalties called for impacts were different with the introduction of headgear.

Methods

Study Sample

Data were prospectively gathered from field players participating on 1 girls’ high school varsity lacrosse team (N = 49; mean age, 16.2 ± 1.2 years; mean height, 1.66 ± 0.05 m; mean weight, 61.2 ± 6.4 kg) over the 2016 and 2017 spring seasons. In 2016 (18 games), no field players wore headgear; this constituted the no headgear condition. In 2017 (15 games), players wore the Women’s LX Headgear (Cascade Lacrosse), meeting the ASTM International performance standard¹; this constituted the headgear condition (). The goalie position was not included in this study, as players in this position wore a boys’ lacrosse helmet during both study years. Written informed parental consent and participant assent were obtained for all participants. This study was approved by an institutional review board.

(A) Front and (B) lateral views of lacrosse headgear and wearable sensors affixed behind the ear.

Measures

In each year of the study, all participants were instrumented with wearable sensors (X2 Biosystems) affixed to the right mastoid process before each game. A trained member of the research team using a high-definition camcorder (XA10 HD; Canon) digitally recorded all competitions. All game-related impacts recorded by the sensors were verified on video. Similar to prior research,^4,6,9,19 we limited our analyses to impacts ≥20g to remove low-acceleration events (10-19g) commonly associated with normal and expected physical activities of game play (eg, jumping, hard stops, cuts, etc) and unlikely to result in deleterious neurophysiological changes. Consistent with prior research,^4,6,9,15 an impact was verified if the following criteria were met: (1) linear acceleration ≥20g, (2) player was identified on the field, (3) player was in the camera’s view, and (4) the impact mechanism could be clearly identified.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics (frequency, median, and interquartile range) for impact characteristics of peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational velocity (PRV) were calculated to accommodate for skewed impact data²¹ for all verified game impacts by headgear condition (no headgear vs headgear). Verified impacts were further characterized as “body impacts” or “head impacts.” Body impacts were defined as verified impacts in which the initial location of contact was to the instrumented player’s body and resulted in a measured head impact ≥20g. Head impacts were defined as verified impacts in which the initial location of contact was to the instrumented player’s head. Game-related mechanisms of impact were described, consistent with prior research by headgear condition.^4,6,9

Impact Rates, Mechanisms, and Penalties

Impact rates (IRs) were calculated as the number of verified impacts divided by the number of player-games, as consistent with prior literature. ^4,6,9 The formula was as follows:

IR=Σ verified impacts≥20gΣ player-games.

Corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using a sandwich covariance estimator.^8,22 Impact rate ratios (IRRs) compared IRs between the no headgear and headgear conditions. The IRRs with 95% CIs excluding 1.00 were considered statistically significant.

To evaluate potential changes in game play associated with headgear use, chi-square tests were used to examine the proportion of impact mechanisms and penalties administered between headgear conditions. Consistent with prior research,^4,6,9 the distribution of impact mechanisms (eg, stick, ball, body, or ground) was compared by headgear condition. We included all penalties referenced in the US Lacrosse and NFHS girls’ lacrosse rule books² that were the result of the impact and also shown on video.

Impact Magnitudes

Differences in mean magnitudes for body and head impacts between headgear conditions were evaluated using a linear generalized estimating equation regression model to control for repeated within-player measurements. ³⁴ This model provided estimated 95% CIs for the mean differences in PLA and PRV by headgear condition. All analyses were conducted using R (Version 3.6.2; R Core Team).²⁶

Results

Across the 2 seasons, there were 649 (n = 345 in 2016; n = 304 in 2017) sensor-instrumented player-games. A total of 229 impacts ≥20g were recorded by the wearable sensors. Of these, 209 (91.3%) impacts were able to be observed on video; 5 (2.4%) of these impacts (no headgear: 2 impacts; headgear: 3 impacts) were determined to not occur during game play (ie, postgoal celebrations) and were excluded from our analyses. In total, 204 (89.1%) impacts ≥20g recorded by the wearable sensors were verified as game-related impacts using video analysis (no headgear: 102 impacts; headgear: 102 impacts) and were included in our analyses.

Comparison of Headgear Conditions

IRs, Mechanisms, and Penalties

Overall, the IR was 0.31 per player-game (95% CI, 0. 18-0.53). Most impacts were imparted to the player’s body (n = 152; 74.5%) rather than to the player’s head (n = 52; 25.5%). The most common impact mechanisms were contact with a player (n = 109; 53.4%) and then a stick (n = 82; 40.2%), followed by the ground (n = 9; 4.4%) and the ball (n = 4; 2.0%). The majority of impacts did not result in a penalty (n = 155; 76.0%). Of note, no game-related concussions were reported during this 2-year study.

IRs did not vary significantly between the no headgear and headgear conditions for overall impacts (0.30 vs 0.34, respectively; IRR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.37-2.08]) or body impacts (0.21 vs 0.26, respectively; IRR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.35-2.00]). Additionally, the rates for impacts directly striking the head were the same between headgear conditions (IR, 0.08 for both; IRR, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.39-2.71]).

There was no association between the proportions of impacts by mechanism between the no headgear and headgear conditions for overall (χ²[3] = 0. 98; P = .81), body (χ²[3] = 0.57; P = .90), or direct head (χ²[3] = 0.27; P = .97) impacts. Often, impacts sustained by players did not result in a penalty by game officials (no penalty: n = 155 [76.0%] vs penalty: n = 49 [24.0%]). There was no association between headgear condition and the frequency of penalties administered for overall (χ²[1] = 0.25; P = .62), body (χ²[1] = 0.45; P = .50), or direct head (χ²[1] = 0.36; P = .55) impacts. presents the frequencies and rates of overall, body, and head impacts by headgear condition, location, mechanism, and penalties administered.

Table 1

Frequencies and Rates for Verified Impacts^a

	No Headgear		Headgear		Overall
	n (%)	IR (95% CI)	n (%)	IR (95% CI)	n (%)	IR (95% CI)
Location
Body	74 (72. 5)	0.21 (0.13-0.36)	78 (76.5)	0.26 (0.13-0.52)	152 (74.5)	0.23 (0.14-0.40)
Head	28 (27.5)	0.08 (0.04-0.15)	24 (23.5)	0.08 (0.04-0.16)	52 (25.5)	0.08 (0.05-0.14)
Mechanism
Ball	2 (2.0)	0.01 (0.00-0.02)	2 (2.0)	0.01 (0.00-0.04)	4 (2.0)	0.01 (0.00-0.02)
Stick	41 (40. 2)	0.12 (0.06-0.24)	41 (40.2)	0.13 (0.07-0.27)	82 (40.2)	0.13 (0.07-0.22)
Player	55 (53.9)	0.16 (0.09-0.27)	54 (52.9)	0.18 (0.09-0.36)	109 (53.4)	0.17 (0.10-0.29)
Ground	4 (3.9)	0.01 (0.00-0.03)	5 (4.9)	0.02 (0.00-0.06)	9 (4.4)	0.01 (0.01-0.03)
Penalty
No	74 (72. 5)	0.21 (0.13-0.35)	81 (79.4)	0.27 (0.14-0.51)	155 (76.0)	0.24 (0.15-0.39)
Yes	28 (27.5)	0.08 (0.04-0.16)	21 (20.6)	0.07 (0.03-0.17)	49 (24.0)	0.08 (0.04-0.15)
Total	102 (100.0)	0.30 (0.18-0.49)	102 (100.0)	0. 34 (0.17-0.67)	204 (100.0)	0.31 (0.18-0.53)

Impact Magnitudes

The median PLA and PRV for all verified impacts were 26.4g and 1452 deg/s, respectively (). A summary of unadjusted median impact magnitudes by headgear condition, location, mechanism, and penalties administered is presented in . Results of the generalized estimating equation model estimated a significant reduction in mean impact magnitudes for overall (PLA: –7.9g [95% CI, –13.3 to –2.5]; PRV: –212 deg/s [95% CI, –359 to –64]) and body (PLA: –8.5g [95% CI, –13.3 to –3.6]; PRV: –287 deg/s [95% CI, –454 to –120]) impacts with headgear relative to no headgear. The model indicated no significant differences in PLA (–1.9g [95% CI, –17.9 to 14.2]) or PRV (93 deg/s [95% CI, –259 to 444]) for those impacts directly striking the head. See for the adjusted model. Overall, 83.2% of the highest-magnitude impacts (≥49. 6g; >90th percentile of PLA) were incurred with no headgear (n = 16), while 4 such impacts (16.8%) were observed with headgear.

Box plots showing median peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational velocity (PRV) impact magnitudes by headgear condition (N = 204).

Table 2

Unadjusted Impact Magnitudes^a

	No Headgear		Headgear		Overall
	PLA, g	PRV, deg/s	PLA, g	PRV, deg/s	PLA, g	PRV, deg/s
Location
Body	28. 1 (23.7-40.2)	1587 (1246-2230)	24.3 (22.1-29.6)	1265 (1051-1673)	26.4 (22.5-32.2)	1446 (1097-1885)
Head	24.5 (22.2-46.9)	1545 (1101-1993)	30.8 (22.9-41.3)	1490 (1033-2101)	26.6 (22.3-42.7)	1545 (1076-2101)
Mechanism
Ball	49.0 (35.5-62.5)	1583 (1163-2003)	27.3 (23.8-30.8)	1298 (1102-1495)	28. 1 (21.5-44.8)	1298 (865-1874)
Stick	26.4 (22.3-47.7)	1548 (1114-2272)	24.7 (22.4-30.0)	1300 (1039-1674)	25.9 (22.3-34.3)	1376 (1073-1774)
Player	27.1 (24.0-37.7)	1571 (1251-2001)	24.8 (22.2-30.5)	1265 (1055-1837)	26.6 (22.9-33.5)	1466 (1130-1899)
Ground	35.6 (30.9-38.2)	2079 (1910-2249)	21.6 (21.4-32.2)	2123 (2048-2206)	32.2 (21.6-36.7)	2123 (1928-2231)
Penalty
No	26.5 (23.2-39.0)	1560 (1128-2279)	24.9 (22.3-30.5)	1306 (1026-1730)	26.3 (22.5-33.7)	1438 (1075-1884)
Yes	32.8 (24.1-47.9)	1626 (1327-1967)	24.0 (21.6-29.7)	1265 (1050-1914)	28.8 (22.8-40.7)	1543 (1137-1928)
Total	27.0 (23.2-41.2)	1579 (1229-2230)	24.7 (22.2-30.5)	1304 (1047-1796)	26.4 (22.5-34.4)	1452 (1085-1914)

Generalized estimating equation model results of estimated means and 95% CIs for impact magnitudes in the headgear and no headgear conditions as well as absolute differences in magnitudes between conditions. PLA, peak linear acceleration; PRV, peak rotational velocity.

Discussion

Girls’ lacrosse headgear meeting the ASTM International performance standard became commercially available in 2017. The headgear is designed to mitigate the severity of impacts from a stick, the ball, other players, the ground, or other objects.¹ The present study is the first to characterize impacts in girls’ lacrosse game play before and after headgear use. Our findings demonstrate that wearing headgear did not have an effect on the rate of overall, body, or head impacts. Further, our findings suggest potentially meaningful reductions in mean and median impact magnitudes with protective headgear for both overall and body impacts. However, when isolating impacts directly to the head, no significant differences were observed in IRs or impact magnitudes between the no headgear and headgear conditions. Our findings also revealed that neither impact mechanism nor the number of penalties administered changed with the use of lacrosse headgear.

Opinions vary regarding the effectiveness of women’s lacrosse headgear and possible associated changes in game play that may increase the risk of injury. Advocates believe that headgear use will decrease the severity of impacts and reduce the risk of head injuries including concussions,^1,11 while opponents maintain that headgear use will change the tenor of the game, resulting in risk compensation¹⁴ and increased aggressive game-play behaviors (ie, gladiator effect).¹¹ Overall, the rate of verified impacts observed in this study was more than twice as high as previously reported among high school girls’ lacrosse per player-game (IR: 0.31 vs 0.12, respectively).⁶ Despite the overall higher rate of impacts compared with prior studies, our present findings revealed no IR change after the adoption of headgear. We were especially interested if headgear resulted in an increased rate of those impacts directly striking the head. Caswell et al⁴ reported that 48% of all impacts in girls’ high school lacrosse directly struck the head. Our findings are encouraging, as we found that fewer than one-third (25.5%) of impacts directly struck the head. Counter to the argument that wearing headgear may result in more head impacts, we observed no significant change in the rate of head impacts after the adoption of headgear. These findings suggest that headgear use does not increase the frequency of head impacts in girls’ high school lacrosse.

The impact magnitudes were lower than previously reported in high school girls’ lacrosse.⁶ For overall impacts (including both body and head impacts), we found that the players wearing headgear experienced a significant reduction in impact magnitudes. This finding supports the proponents of headgear, who contend that headgear use decreases the severity of impacts and the risk of injury. We suggest caution, however, as this reduction was primarily driven by impacts sustained to the body and not those directly to the head. When restricting our analysis to direct head impacts, which accounted for one-fourth of all impacts in this study, we found that the players wearing headgear did not experience a statistically significant reduction in PLA or PRV impact magnitudes.

No concussions were diagnosed in either season of this study. It is well-accepted that concussions can be caused by either a direct impact to the head or from elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head.¹⁸ To date, a universally accepted biomechanical threshold of a concussion continues to be elusive.^7,13 As such, it remains unknown whether the size of the reduction in impact severity that we observed for overall and body impacts among players wearing headgear is clinically meaningful. Perhaps a potentially important finding was that we observed considerably fewer extreme-magnitude impacts (>90th percentile) among those players wearing headgear. This suggests that headgear use may help achieve the broader safety goal of reducing exposure to high-magnitude impacts. Alternatively, it could also be possible that fewer high-magnitude impacts occurred among players wearing headgear.

It is interesting to note that the most common impact mechanism in the current study was contact with another player, as opposed to previous research of ours that identified stick contact as the most common mechanism.⁶ A comparison of the distribution of impact mechanisms before and after the adoption of headgear from 2016 to 2017 revealed no differences by headgear condition. Moreover, we found no differences in the proportion of impacts that resulted in a penalty. Although not direct measures of player aggression or risk compensation, these are measures of game play, and one could reasonably expect differences to be revealed between the no headgear and headgear conditions. Our findings suggest that headgear use may not affect how impacts occur or how aggressively the game is played. However, more research is needed with larger study populations and various levels of play to confirm this finding.

As a whole, we observed that headgear use among high school girls’ varsity lacrosse players did not result in increased impacts or changes in game-play behaviors. Furthermore, the addition of headgear resulted in no changes in the frequency of penalties administered for illegal game play by officials. Nearly a quarter (24.0%) of all impacts in this study resulted from foul play. Girls’ high school lacrosse rules dictate that all stick and bodily contact should be considered illegal and warrant a penalty. This suggests that officials missed 76.0% of illegal game play. This presents an opportunity to significantly reduce impacts through improved rule enforcement and coaching techniques that are targeted to reduce stick and bodily contact. It is worth noting that only 1 team wore headgear during game play; this factor may have influenced game play. Future studies are necessary to evaluate if our findings persist when both teams are wearing headgear.

Limitations and Strengths

Our study was not without limitations. First, we utilized a small convenience sample of a single team, which may not be representative of all high school girls’ lacrosse players. Several of the same players as a team wore no headgear in 2016, were introduced to headgear in 2017, and were measured by the same investigative team, all of which may have introduced systematic errors such as performance and measurement bias. Further, the participants in the present study during the 2017 (headgear) season competed in games in which their opponents did not wear headgear. This could have affected the manner in which the team and opponents played as well as the nature of the head impacts measured. As such, a larger study with teams or leagues randomized by headgear/no headgear condition would better account for repeated measurements within players. Despite these limitations, the strength of the design was a realistic capture of impacts in the competitive setting, with a novel system for data capture. Finally, as previously reported,^6,9,19,27,29 the use of impact-monitoring sensors should be interpreted with caution, as random measurement errors are possible. While the present study did pair all sensor data with time-synchronized video verification, the accuracy of the impact magnitudes over the course of a season may be limited.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that the use of headgear meeting the ASTM F3137 performance standard by high school girls’ varsity lacrosse players was not associated with a significant change in the rate of impacts, how they occur, or how penalties were administered for impacts sustained during competition. Additionally, the use of lacrosse headgear was associated with a significant reduction in the magnitude of overall impacts sustained during game play. However, the clinical significance of this reduction remains unknown, as it was largely driven by body impacts, and we observed no such reduction in magnitude when examining only verified impacts directly striking the head. Collectively, these findings provide preliminary evidence that wearing lacrosse headgear meeting the ASTM F3137 performance standard does not appreciably change game-play behaviors, while it does reduce the magnitude of head accelerations associated with body impacts sustained during high school girls’ lacrosse. Future research should continue to examine headgear use at all levels of girls’ and women’s lacrosse to validate and improve upon these study findings.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Prince William County Public Schools and the administration, coaching staff, athletes, and parents at Patriot High School for their cooperation with this study.

Footnotes

Final revision submitted June 4, 2020; accepted June 17, 2020.

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: S.V.C. acknowledges research grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health as well as the Prince William County Public Schools. S.V.C., P.M.K., A.E.L., D.C.H., L.H.H., H.K.V., and N.C. acknowledge unrestricted grant funding from US Lacrosse. S.V.C., P.M.K., A.E.L., D.C.H., and H.K.V. acknowledge unrestricted grant funding from the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. S.V.C. and A.E.L. are members of the US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee. D.C.H. has received hospitality payments from DJO and consulting fees from Pacira Pharmaceuticals. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from George Mason University (study No. 500707-11).

References

1.
ASTM International. ASTM F3137-15 standard specification for headgear used in women’s lacrosse (excluding goalkeepers). Accessed August 23, 2016
10.1520/F3137-15
[CrossRef]2.
Atkinson L, Kelley C, eds. 2019 NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Book. Indianapolis: National Federation of State High School Associations; 2018. [Google Scholar]3.
Barber KF, Le EC, McCambridge T, Hinton R, Kushner A, Myer GD.
Epidemiology of injuries in men’s lacrosse: injury prevention implications for competition level, type of play, and player position. Phys Sportsmed. 2017;45(3):224–233. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]4.
Caswell SV, Kelshaw P, Lincoln AE, Hepburn L, Dunn R, Cortes N.
Game-related impacts in high school boys’ lacrosse. Orthop J Sports Med. 2019;7(4):2325967119835587. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]5.
Caswell SV, Lincoln AE, Almquist JL, Dunn RE, Hinton RY.
Video incident analysis of head injuries in high school girls’ lacrosse. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(4):756–762. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]6.
Caswell SV, Lincoln AE, Stone H, et al.
Characterizing verified head impacts in high school girls’ lacrosse. Am J Sports Med. 2017;45(14):3374–3381. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]7.
Chancellor SE, Franz ES, Minaeva OV, Goldstein LE.
Pathophysiology of concussion. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2019;30:14–25. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]8.
Chandran A, Brown D, Nedimyer AK, Kerr ZY.
Statistical methods for handling observation clustering in sports injury surveillance. J Athl Train. 2019;54(11):1192–1196. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]9.
Cortes N, Lincoln AE, Myer GD, et al.
Video analysis verification of head impact events measured by wearable sensors. Am J Sports Med. 2017;45(10):2379–2387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]10.
Daneshvar DH, Baugh CM, Nowinski CJ, McKee AC, Stern RA, Cantu RC.
Helmets and mouth guards: the role of personal equipment in preventing sport-related concussions. Clin Sports Med. 2011;30(1):145–163. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]12.
Diamond PT, Gale SD.
Head injuries in men’s and women’s lacrosse: a 10 year analysis of the NEISS database. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Brain Inj.
2001;15(6):537–544. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]13.
Guskiewicz KM, Mihalik JP.
Biomechanics of sport concussion: quest for the elusive injury threshold. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2011;39(1):4–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]14.
Hagel B, Meeuwisse W.
Risk compensation: a “side effect” of sport injury prevention?
Clin J Sport Med. 2004;14(4):193–196. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]15.
Kelshaw P, Cortes N, Caswell A, Caswell SV.
Isometric cervical muscle strength does not affect head impact kinematics in high school boys’ lacrosse. Int J Athl Ther Train. 2018;23(6):234–238. [Google Scholar]16.
Lincoln AE, Caswell SV, Almquist JL, et al.
Effectiveness of the women’s lacrosse protective eyewear mandate in the reduction of eye injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(3):611–614. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]17.
Lincoln AE, Hinton RY, Almquist JL, Lager SL, Dick RW.
Head, face, and eye injuries in scholastic and collegiate lacrosse: a 4-year prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:207–215. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]18.
McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvořák J, et al.
Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Berlin, October 2016. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(11):838–847. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]19.
McCuen E, Svaldi D, Breedlove K, et al.
Collegiate women’s soccer players suffer greater cumulative head impacts than their high school counterparts. J Biomech. 2015;48(13):3720–3723. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]21.
O’Connor KL, Rowson S, Duma SM, Broglio SP.
Head-impact–measurement devices: a systematic review. J Athl Train. 2017;52(3):206–227. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]22.
Pan W, Wall MM.
Small-sample adjustments in using the sandwich variance estimator in generalized estimating equations. Stat Med. 2002;21(10):1429–1441. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]23.
Peltzman S.
The effects of automobile safety regulation. J Political Econ. 1975;83(4):677–725. [Google Scholar]26.
R Core Team.
R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2019. [Google Scholar]29.
Siegmund GP, Guskiewicz KM, Marshall SW, DeMarco AL, Bonin SJ.
Laboratory validation of two wearable sensor systems for measuring head impact severity in football players. Ann Biomed Eng. 2016;44(4):1257–1274. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]32.
Veasley S, Baron SL, Nguyen M, et al.
Effectiveness of high school girls lacrosse headgear mandate in the reduction of head and face injuries. Orthop J Sports Med. 2019;7(3 suppl):2325967119S0002. [Google Scholar]33.
Weaver J, Fickert L, eds. 2018 NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Book. Indianapolis: National Federation of State High School Associations; 2017. [Google Scholar]34.
Zeger SL, Liang K-Y, Albert PS.
Models for longitudinal data: a generalized estimating equation approach. Biometrics. 1988;44(4):1049. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Popular Helmet Updated – Old Model Will Not be Allowed in 2020 – Tampa Lax Report

US Lacrosse’s safety testing contractor yesterday announced the certification of a newer version of likely the most used helmet in Florida for girls lacrosse. If the FHSAA adopts the same ruling (EDIT: They did. Please see the bottom of this article), the change would affect players beginning in the upcoming 2020 season just months away by making older versions ineligible for play.

Older LX model

The Cascade LX model is an integrated helmet and goggles option that recently underwent a safety approval process as part of the 2020 certification of athletic goggles. The process is handled by Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) and results in products either earning or not earning the
ASTM F3077-17 certification. US Lacrosse relies on this approval standard when determining safety equipment for use in the sport, in this case, helmets that FHSAA mandates full usage of by all girls participating in high school lacrosse in Florida.

As per the SEI website, the Cascade LX is no longer listed as an approved helmet for girls lacrosse. Instead, the newer LX18 model is shown. That model was updated in late-2018 and did receive the ASTM approval, unlike the one currently in use by most teams in Florida.

When helmets were mandated by the FHSAA in 2018, schools had a choice of either the Cascade LX or one of the two Hummingbird models. Many schools chose the Cascade, including all Hillsborough County public schools. The schools that chose Hummingbird are unaffected as those models were ASTM certified as part of the helmet testing process

If the FHSAA agrees to adopt this new ruling on helmets, it will put many schools across the state in a financial and logistical bind. Optimistically, Tampa Lax Report has heard that the FHSAA has stated they “will work with the teams” affected by this for the 2020 season.

Newer LX model

An option benefiting the Cascade LX-using schools by the FHSAA would certainly be welcomed, as adopting the changes will be costly. “If FHSAA says ‘we can’t do anything about this’, you are going to have to buy sanctioned helmets for the 2020 season,” said Tampa Catholic girls lacrosse coach Joe Ferraro. “You’re probbably looking at $3,000 to $4,000 per team that used Cascade LX.”

Edit: Clarification on this article provided by Cascade/Maverik Lacrosse’s Global Business Director Tim Ellsworth, Hummingbird Sports’ Co-Founder Julie Stolker, and US Lacrosse’s Women’s Lacrosse Director Caitlin Kelley. We thank them all for their information and time.

Tampa Lax Report has reached out to the FHSAA for comment, but did not hear back prior to publication. We will update this article if they choose to do so.

Edit (Jan. 5, 2020): FHSAA communicated via email to Athletic Directors to offer clarification, but essentially told all schools that adherence to the new safety standards wasn’t optional for the 2020 girls season. This means that schools currently using older Cascade LX models containing only the ASTM F3077 designation will not be permitted to field teams. Those schools will need to opt for either a different helmet/goggle option such as the offerings from Hummingbird or a newer Cascade LX containing the ASTM F3077-17 safety designation. If neither option can be handled before the season starts, those schools will not be permitted to field teams.

From the email: “Starting January 1, 2020, all eyewear on the playing field must be SEI certified and bear the SEI mark for certification and will be listed on the SEI website.” “Both the headgear and eye protectors must be appropriately marked. The current certification for headgear is ASTM 3137-15 and the current certification for eye protectors is ASTM F3077-2017.”

Are Women’s Lacrosse Helmet Hats Coming Soon?

The debate over whether or not women should wear helmets when playing lacrosse is intense!!!!!  There are calls for the addition of helmets to reduce concussions, and that has people up in arms, but the majority of the long-standing women’s lacrosse community seems stridently opposed to the idea.

The Crasche helmet hat. The first step to women’s lax helmets?

The arguments for and against the helmet are myriad, and I have heard impassioned arguments on both sides.  I’m not sure where I stand right now, but can say that I’ve flip-flopped on the issue quite a bit.  Sometimes I just want to see the women put on helmets and light gloves and go at it a little more physically.  But other times I really enjoy the restraint, tactics and finesse of the current game.  It’s a tough call.

So this post isn’t really “pro” or “con”… it’s just asking the question, “are women’s lacrosse helmets coming soon?”

A recent article on Newsday.com has me thinking that yes, in some form, helmets are coming to women’s lax.

Although certain states (Massachusetts for one) have toyed with making helmets mandatory in girl’s lacrosse, the move rarely lasts very long.  And right now, helmets are actually illegal in the sport, apart from the goalie.  However, a new padded hat made by Crasche, a Long Island-based company, has been approved for play, and could be seen as the first “exemption” case.

The hat has padding inside of it, including neoprene rubber and polycarbonate plastic, and while it isn’t a helmet in a real sense, it does conceivably provide some level of protection to the head.  The Crasche site says, “The Crasche hat is ideal for people who should wear a helmet, but don’t. It is not designed to replace a helmet, but it is certainly a whole lot better than nothing on your head.”

So now that this intentionally protective hat is allowed, where is the line drawn?

Again, I’m not saying the hat shouldn’t be legal.  I’m not so sure about either side of the argument still.  But I am saying that if this hat is allowed, what will be allowed next?  Perhaps a padded rugby hat for a girl who suffered a severe concussion, and then a hockey helmet for a girl recovering from a skull fracture.  AGAIN, I’m not saying any of those things should or shouldn’t be allowed, because I simply don’t know, or understand women’s lacrosse that well.

But I do know that when one exemption is granted, others are sure to follow.  And in this case, it looks like women’s lacrosse might be getting helmets someday soon.

What do YOU think?  Should women’s lacrosse players pad up a bit?

Hit us up in the comments!

90,000 Supervision of a child by specialists from 0 to 18 years

Seeing your baby healthy, vigorous, active, cheerful – isn’t this the dream of all parents? It is necessary to understand that the intensive development and growth of a child, especially in combination with an unfavorable environmental situation, can provoke the development of various deviations in health. Therefore, maintaining and strengthening health is not only daily care and concern, but also providing decent medical care for your child.Doctors-specialists, observing the formation of the body, neuropsychic development, will timely identify the initial stages of changes in the organ system and diseases at an early stage. In accordance with the age of the child, a certain regimen will be prescribed, exercise, nutrition, hardening methods, preventive measures will be recommended, they will provide medical assistance in a timely manner and thereby prevent the development of a number of chronic diseases and their exacerbations.

Examination of children in a particular age period is due to the characteristics of the child’s development.

A baby under one year old needs to be examined more often, because any parent knows that during the first year of life, the baby grows by leaps and bounds, gains weight, acquires skills, improves vision and hearing, important periods of musculoskeletal development go through, digestive and other systems, and the foundations of future health are laid even in infancy. The baby is examined by specialist doctors at 1.3, 6, 12 months.

FIRST MONTH

In the first month of life, it is important to exclude congenital pathology of organs and systems, which are fundamental for further growth and development.

During the examination, a pediatric neurologist determines the baby’s reaction to loud sounds, which helps to exclude congenital deafness or hearing loss, examines the condition of the spine, cranial sutures, large and small fontanelles, to exclude spinal defects and intracranial hypertension. Evaluates the child’s neuropsychic development, checking reflexes and the child’s ability to interact with the outside world, that is, behavioral reactions; unconditioned reflexes of newborns: searching, proboscis, sucking – without them, the baby cannot find her mother’s breast and receive milk from it, protective reflexes – to turn her head towards the danger of stopping air access.

By virtue of his profession, a pediatric surgeon possesses knowledge not only of a surgical profile, but also knowledge in the field of orthopedics and urology. A specialist examines the child for the presence of many diseases: congenital dislocation of the hip, dysplasia (underdevelopment) of the hip joints, congenital muscle torticollis, clubfoot, calcaneal or flat-valgus feet, fractures: skull bones, limbs, collarbones, vertebrae, shoulder dislocation , cephalohematoma, umbilical, inguinal hernia, hernia of the white line of the abdomen.To exclude dysplasia of the hip joints, all children are prescribed an ultrasound examination of the hip joints. Hemangiomas (benign tumor) of various localization are often detected during examination. In infants, the genitals are carefully examined. In young girls, most often in the first month of life, there may be a fusion of the labia (synechiae), since synechiae can cause urinary retention and may require surgery. And what about the boys? Dropsy of the testicle or cryptorchidism may be detected – not descent of one or both testicles into the scrotum (occurs in 10-20% of boys).Look where the opening of the urethra opens. Sometimes it is not located at the top of the glans (it should be), but on the upper or lower surface of the penis (hypospadias or epispadias). This pathology does not cause pain to the baby, but in the future it can be the cause of curvature of the penis and difficulties during sexual activity.

Examination by an ophthalmologist is very important for crumbs, especially premature babies and babies with complications in childbirth or with an unfavorable course of pregnancy.They need to exclude retinopathy. The specialist will examine the fundus of the child, assess the reaction of the pupils to light, exclude blindness and malformations of the lacrimal canals, serious visual acuity disorders. It is normal for newborns to have physiological hyperopia, when the image of objects is focused not on the retina, but behind it. Approximately up to 1 year, doctors consider farsightedness from +3 to +6 diopters to be the norm. In addition, at such an early age, it is possible to timely identify and successfully treat diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, congenital retinal tumor – retinoblastoma.

THREE MONTHS

At 3 months of life, due to the intensive growth and development of the baby’s musculoskeletal system, manifestations of changes in muscle tone, the upcoming development of new types of movement: coups, sitting down, and then crawling, it is necessary for a pediatric neurologist and orthopedic traumatologist. Often, a neurologist diagnoses movement disorders for the first time at this age.

By this age, the initial manifestations of acquired pathology, in particular post-traumatic torticollis, may appear as a result of damage to the sternoclavicular muscle and the formation of a scar, or an incorrectly fused clavicle fracture; deficiency of vitamin “D” (flattening of the occipital bone, softness and pliability of bones in the fontanelle and sutures, as well as a receding hairline on the back of the head).Traumatologist – an orthopedist monitors the course and treatment of previously identified diseases. Up to 3 months of age, the functions of the hip joints are almost completely restored.

6 months The main purpose of the examination of a pediatric surgeon is to test motor skills and identify signs of metabolic disorders – phosphate-diabetes, rickets. The children are already actively turning over, trying to sit down, the thoracic and lumbar curvature of the spine begins to form. Examines the head, chest for the presence of rickety changes: in the area of ​​transition of the bone part of the ribs to the cartilaginous – thickening – rickety rosary, lateral compression, protrusion of the sternum forward in the form of the keel of a boat.The spine is bent posteriorly, kyphosis is formed. Physiological curves are often enhanced, but with a strong degree, new curvatures appear.

A children’s neurologist assesses the state of muscle tone, physical activity, the development of physical and psychomotor development (humming, babbling, emotions and social behavior) in the presence of a pathology of the nervous system, the dynamics of the course of the disease is monitored.

1 YEAR

Examination at 12 months is a summing up of the richest year in a child’s life.So, what the specialists look at and what they want to see from your child.

Pediatric surgeon – detects problems of the navel and umbilical ring, malformations of the chest and abdomen, hernias. By this age, there may be spontaneous closure of hernias of the white line of the abdomen, self-healing of dropsy of the testicles in boys. He will pay special attention to the baby if he is registered with a neurologist with PEP (perinatal encephalopathy) or got a note to the pediatrician because of rickets. These children have muscle and ligament weakness.The child actively walks through life – by the handle or already independently. At the same time, the baby’s legs are under serious stress. Therefore, it is important to prevent flat feet and not to allow the so-called equine foot to form, when the baby actually moves on tiptoe without loading the heels. In addition, the appearance of an O or X-shaped curvature of the legs is possible. Particular attention is paid to the examination of the genitals of boys. A boy’s testicles should be in the scrotum. If the testicle does not descend on its own by the year, the baby is prescribed an operation – the testicle is lowered into the scrotum and fixed there.Control over the development of a previously identified pathology – hypospadias or epispadias – is carried out. Watching the removal of the glans penis. Children may have physiological phimosis. With the head closed under the foreskin, the lubricant produced by the sebaceous glands, together with all kinds of bacteria, can cause inflammation of the foreskin and glans (balanoposthitis), which can cause urinary retention or the formation of penile scarring. In the future, the pediatric surgeon will annually monitor the course of the identified surgical diseases.

Otorhinolaryngologist – excludes deafness in a child, congenital narrowness of the nasal passages, malformations of the nose, ears and oral cavity, reveals inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx. Indeed, due to anatomical features, banal rhinitis leads to swelling of the mucous membrane and an even greater narrowing of the nasal passages, which makes it difficult to breathe through the nose. In this case, the baby becomes restless, capricious, breathes through the mouth, and does not sleep well.

The children’s neurologist sums up the neuropsychic development for the year.Assesses the state of muscle tone and tendon reflexes. How the child’s active and understandable speech is developed, what skills he acquired in a year, how effective was the treatment of the pathology of the nervous system and what is the possible prognosis of the existing disease.

The ophthalmologist examines again. It defines refraction, i.e. optical structure of the eye (farsightedness, myopia, astigmatism) and, if necessary, prescribes appropriate correction in order to prevent deterioration of visual acuity, the possible occurrence of amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and strabismus.Examines the eyes for glaucoma, cataracts, retinoblastoma, retinal dystrophy, optic nerve atrophy.

The baby is examined by a children’s dentist for the first time to monitor the process of eruption of milk teeth and exclude the congenital absence of their bookmarks. He examines the erupted teeth, assesses their condition. Determine the condition of the frenum of the tongue and upper lip. The doctor will tell you about the proper care of the baby’s oral cavity. It is better to take proper care of your teeth than to treat them well later.

In addition to these specialist doctors, the baby will have a meeting with a child psychiatrist. A child, like a sponge, absorbs information, sounds and emotions from the world around him, and not being able to express his emotions in words, the child reacts to them with psychoemotional reactions, which ultimately can result not only in a mental disorder, but also in a full-fledged somatic illness. The task of the psychiatrist is to identify the harbingers of these disorders, to help parents with the formation of the character of a little person.

3 YEARS

Big changes are planned in your child’s life – he is going to kindergarten. A new rhythm of the day, an unusual diet, and most importantly – a new environment. This is a real test for the immune system of a little person!

The ear, throat and nose are the gateways for many infections, so it is important to keep them in order, and an ENT examination is very important. A significant part of babies suffer from an increase in adenoids, chronic tonsillitis – it is necessary to determine the indications for their surgical treatment, especially in long-term and often ill children.From 1.5 – 2 years old, the paranasal sinuses begin to form, so a child may have sinusitis with complications of rhinitis. Examines the nose for acquired curvature of the nasal septum as a result of domestic injuries during games and falls. Determines hearing problems, including due to the presence of sulfuric plugs in the external auditory canal.

The ever-increasing physical activity affects the formation of the musculoskeletal system, as well as the development of the musculoskeletal system on the child’s physical activity.The task of the pediatric surgeon is to make sure that there are no flat feet, early curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis). The doctor assesses the dynamics of chest deformity; it is by this age that mild degrees of funnel-shaped curvature can be corrected during treatment. Eliminate the consequences of traumas in children that have specific features. Sprains, dislocations rarely occur due to the elasticity of the ligaments, more often there are fractures in the growth zone, sometimes with a separation. An undiagnosed trauma can lead to impaired growth and deformity of the limb.

The children’s neurologist checks reflexes, coordination, sensitivity, compliance with the child’s age and developmental level. Reveals hyperexcitability and restlessness, enuresis, general speech underdevelopment, various types of stuttering, sleep disturbance problems.

The doctor – obstetrician-gynecologist reveals the features of the child’s sexual development, the correctness of the formation of the genitals and the presence or absence of inflammatory diseases.

Doctor – urologist-andrologist examines the condition of the genitals after surgical treatment, if such was carried out for hyposodia, cryptorchidism; removal of the glans penis – by 3 – 4 years, physiological phimosis disappears; the presence of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.

Before reaching school age, the child spends more and more time at the computer or game consoles. The ophthalmologist assesses the visual acuity and whether it corresponds to the age norm. Corrects refractive errors.

Almost all dental diseases are irreversible. In other words, the carious cavity itself is not restored, and the lost teeth do not grow back. Therefore, when examining the oral cavity, the pediatric dentist finds out if the baby has dental problems – caries, gum disease, stomatitis, malocclusion, curvature of the teeth and whether everything is in order with the development of the maxillofacial apparatus.

General nervousness (irritability, excitability, decreased appetite, motor restlessness, tendency to unreasonable temperature fluctuations), withdrawal, a tendency to aggression and anxiety will be the subject of a child psychiatrist’s proceedings. In addition, the doctor will give advice on how to make the adaptation to the team the least traumatic for the baby.

At 4 and 5 years old, it is necessary to visit a pediatric surgeon. Indeed, by this time, the physiological curves of the spine are fully formed and possible postural disorders.By the age of 5, the arches of the foot have also formed and it is already possible to make or exclude the diagnosis of flat feet with confidence.

6 YEARS

6 years is the preparatory year for school. It is important to make sure there are no vision problems. By the age of 6, hyperopia begins to decrease, and what is the visual acuity in general and whether it corresponds to age. Identify color perception anomalies. After all, visual defects retard psycho-motor development (95% of information about the outside world we get thanks to vision).Therefore, it is so important to show your child to an ophthalmologist.

It is assumed that it is necessary to gnaw the granite of science with healthy teeth. Therefore, children need to sanitize the oral cavity: identify teeth affected by caries and carry out treatment, evaluate changes in the occlusion and get advice on how to avoid new problems. A deciduous tooth that is not cured in time can cause complications that lead to damage to the rudiment of a permanent tooth. And if the milk tooth is removed ahead of time and is not immediately replaced by a permanent one, then the child is guaranteed a bite pathology.The nature of the bite affects the articulation of speech.

Deviations in psycho-motor (enuresis, motor disinhibition, or vice versa, excessive slowness in actions, bad habits – pulling clothes, biting nails or lips, blinking, sucking a finger) and somato-vegetative (various pains, excessive sweating, appetite disturbances, sleep problems) development the pediatric neurologist will have to find out when examining the child, and while there is time before entering school, prescribe the appropriate treatment.

7 YEARS AND SCHOOL AGE

At the age of 7 years, the process of learning at school begins and it is necessary to determine the readiness for heavy loads, and based on the results of the examination by specialist doctors, outline a plan for the school doctor.

Urologist-andrologist and obstetrician-gynecologist-exclude premature puberty, which is usually associated with serious endocrine diseases that require urgent treatment.

Otorhinolaryngologist – eliminates the problems of hearing loss, difficulty in nasal breathing (adenoids, curvature of the nasal septum, hypertrophy of the nasal mucosa, polyps), which lead to rapid fatigue of the student and, as a result, does not cope with the program.

During this period, the child is actively growing. Improper sitting position at the table, obesity, insufficient physical activity lead to disruption of the musculoskeletal system. Examining a child, an orthopedic traumatologist identifies the initial stages of posture disorders, curvature of the spine, and he must also determine if there is any pathology in the development of the feet and lower legs.

In the presence of problems of attention and behavior, sleep disturbances, anxiety, nervous tics, headaches, speech disorders, a pediatric neurologist will have to exclude or establish a connection with the pathology of the nervous system and give recommendations on the correct organization of adaptation to school life.

The child psychiatrist uses tests to determine the level of psychological maturity, readiness of the child for school and identify his “weak points”. Readiness for school presupposes: the child has a well-formed student position – the child understands why it is important to study, why it is necessary to overcome difficulties, realizes that learning is not just another game, he is interested in learning new things, he must be able to obey the rules and work according to instructions, must motor skills be developed, on which the writing of the future student depends.At this age, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed, which can develop within the framework of various disorders – from psycho-traumatic influences, mild organic lesions of the central nervous system to schizophrenia. The early onset of psychocorrectional influences largely determines their effectiveness.

An examination by a pediatric dentist will show if the child has dental problems (tooth decay, gum disease, malocclusion, crooked teeth).

The ophthalmologist evaluates visual acuity, detects the presence of strabismus, optic nerve atrophy, as a result of the course of diseases of the nervous system.Eliminates inflammatory eye diseases, allergic conjunctivitis, pathology of color perception.

With age, the need to monitor the health status of children does not decrease, but increases. The most pronounced increase in the number of diseases is observed in children aged 7 to 18 years and coincides with the time spent in school. During the school period, the number of children with chronic diseases increased by 20%, the frequency of chronic pathology increases annually and over the past 5 years has increased by one and a half times.Today, every child under the age of 14 has at least two diseases. At school, the load on various body systems increases noticeably.

In particular, vision requires special attention. The number of visual impairments (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, amblyopia, strabismus) in school-age children has almost doubled. The reason is the excessive use of computers, tablets and cell phones, and at school, the load on the child’s visual apparatus increases significantly.In this connection, visits to an ophthalmologist from the age of 10 should become annual, and especially for children whose family has relatives with visual impairments.

The musculoskeletal system is no less susceptible to the child’s changing regime (sits more, and not always correctly, moves less, or vice versa, starts actively playing sports). That affects the spine, the risk of its curvature increases, as well as the development of flat feet. From 8 to 14 years old, playing sports can provoke the manifestation of age-related pathology of Schinz’s disease, manifested by pain in the heels, sometimes swelling.Without treatment, it can take years. At the age of 11-15, the body grows rapidly. Often the muscles cannot cope with the increased load, there is a danger of spinal deformity. At this age, the disease often progresses, which leads to increased scoliosis, deformation of the chest and pelvis, dysfunction of the lungs and heart, and pelvic organs. Also, during this age period, adolescents may be concerned about pain in the knee joint, which may be caused by Osgood-Schlatter disease. This is the problem of the growing bone of a teenager.It can pass on its own, or it can leave unpleasant consequences. Sports activities should also be coordinated with a specialist, because some types may be contraindicated in the presence of changes in the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, at the age of 10, a visit to a traumatologist – orthopedist suggests itself.

Preventive examination of the dentist at 10 and 14 years old will reveal and promptly correct the pathology of the bite. With the eruption of the first permanent tooth, a changeable bite begins, which is a higher degree of development and differentiation of the masticatory apparatus, which lasts up to 14 years.During the formation of a changeable bite, the most intensive growth of the jaw bones also occurs. In addition, starting from adolescence (14 years), an annual examination with oral cavity sanitation (treatment of caries, periodontal disease, detection of dental canal cysts, removal of tartar deposits) will preserve teeth for long years.

For 10 years, it is worth planning an examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist for a girl and an urologist-andrologist for a boy. At this stage, it is important to make sure how correctly the female and male phenotypes are formed, respectively.How secondary sex characteristics begin to develop. A child turns into a teenager through puberty.

Every girl comes to this world to continue the human race. From the age of 12, the period of the formation of menstrual function begins. Unfortunately, the reproductive health of our girls has been deteriorating from generation to generation. According to statistics, every fifth girl has a disrupted menstrual cycle, and 20% have chronic inflammatory diseases.The early sexual life of girls does not have the best effect on the reproductive organs. To identify signs of impaired puberty, preventive examinations of an obstetrician-gynecologist are called upon at the age of 12, and annually starting from the age of 14.

Exactly for both girls and boys, regular examinations of the urologist-andrologist at the age of 14, 15, 16, 17 are necessary in order to control puberty and early detection of inflammatory changes in the genital organs (orchitis, urethritis).

By the age of 10, many problems have accumulated that, at first glance, are not related to the endocrine system: weight disorders – both its deficiency and excess, stunting from peers or excessively rapid growth, inconsistency in the sequence of the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics with age norms, increased emotional excitability, especially in girls (tearfulness, even aggression), tremor of the hands, enlargement of the eyeballs, the appearance of a difference in pressure – decreased diastolic and increased systolic (pulse), thin, delicate, even dry skin, it turns out that the reason for such violations lies in the disruption of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands , thyroid gland.Improper nutrition: foods containing trans fats (cookies, chips) and an excess of sweets, and today’s youth prefers just such food, which causes overweight, obesity, leads to a violation of fat metabolism, and then carbohydrate metabolism and the development of diabetes. Insufficient physical activity and even an unnecessarily long stay at the computer at an early age can provoke the development of thyroid diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis. In addition, it is necessary to check the bone age.If the growth zones closed at the age of 14-15, it means that the child will no longer grow, and this is an unfavorable sign. Thus, examination by a pediatric endocrinologist is extremely important at 10,15,16,17 years.

In connection with the changing information, social environment and psychological load on the student, for the timely diagnosis of mental illness and their timely treatment, it is necessary to examine children by a child (at 10 years old) and then by a teenage psychiatrist. At primary school age (8-12 years), developmental delays are clearly manifested – speech, motor, intellectual development, behavioral reactions do not lend themselves to correction by methods of psychological and pedagogical influence – the child is pugnacious, overly aggressive, “uncontrollable” and poses a danger to other children and ( or) oneself or becomes withdrawn, uncommunicative, the rate of development of skills and memory sharply decreases.The appearance of daytime or nighttime incontinence of urine or feces (in the absence of spinal cord injury and urological diseases), persistent recurring fears in the daytime and at night, sleepwalking, sleep-talk are possible. At the age of 14-15, or even earlier, it is possible to become involved in alcohol and (or) drug addiction. During this period, manifestations of behavioral disturbances are possible (aggressiveness, cruelty, a tendency to leave and vagrancy, suicidal statements, hatred of loved ones, isolation), stubborn restriction of food intake with a desire to lose weight, a painful attitude towards a real minor physical disability (excessive fixation on it), excessive one-sided hobbies, which are given most of the time to the detriment of study and communication.A child who at least once spoke about suicide is subject to immediate examination by a psychiatrist and long-term observation.

Finally, no health problem will bypass the pediatrician. It is the pediatrician who witnesses how the child grows and changes. Even in the first year of life, when the pediatrician weighs the baby, measures the height, checks the neuropsychic development for age, monitors the correct feeding and introduction of complementary foods, issues a permit for preventive vaccinations and gives recommendations for hardening the baby and care.It is in this year that close contact with the pediatrician is born, and the closer this contact is, the better for the child’s health. Reception of narrow specialists is usually limited only to the examination of a specific organ or system. And only a pediatrician is able to “combine” the results of these examinations into a complete picture. Carrying out monthly in the first year, and in the future annual examinations of children, he will be the first to identify deviations in the state of health: congenital anomalies of organs and systems, latent current diseases, inconsistency of physical and neuropsychic development with age norms, manifestation of acute diseases and vitamin deficiency states.He will timely carry out diagnostic measures that are needed specifically for your boy or girl. If indicated, he will send the child for consultation to any specialist: allergist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, immunologist.

So, is it worth neglecting preventive examinations when it comes to the health of your child? The answer is obvious. And when the doctors confirm that your child is well developed intellectually, is quite active and cheerful, and most importantly – healthy, you will feel that the health and well-being of your baby is in your hands and you are doing everything right.

A motorcyclist was killed in Stachek. The helmet flew off: the right side was simply erased from the blow «Accidents and Emergencies | St. Petersburg “” VKontakte “. The pilot looks no more than 30 years old, notes Natalia.

“The blow was wow! Even the children woke up from the cotton, I could hear it from the house 11.The speed was frantic. The fellow bikers could not find the bike, they threw about … twenty meters away, ”notes Madina.

Giper 33 on the “Motobrat” tells how it all happened: “I was a witness. He blocked the road with his motorcycle. It all happened like this: at a traffic light, he accelerated and raised it, lowered it and lost control. A siberian flew right in front of me, striking sparks. The speed was great. The mot flew away before the street turn. I was driving out of a perpendicular street. Immediately blocked the movement. I would not say that there was a strong clap, the motorcycle still touched the car.I called an ambulance and the police. The ambulance arrived quickly. <...> I was upset by the indifference of the people whom I asked to fence off the motorcycle there in the distance. He himself drove away onlookers from the body, who almost went to bed to be photographed. The guy had a weak pulse, but then disappeared. The ambulance pronounced death when they arrived. ”

And he continues: “First, the roar of the engine, the light, I drive up to the intersection in this square, and the mot flies past me with sparks, and his body, tumbling, stopped across the lane opposite me.The helmet fell off him, tk. from the blow and scuffs, the right side was erased on it so that there was a hole (if you tie the helmet behind the car, the net is on it and go). The fastening of the strap on the helmet was erased, the visor was nearby and the pinlog had jumped off. I tried to carefully cross the road and position the motorcycle so that the cars did not run over his head. I looked at the place of its fall and where the body stopped, the movement was straightforward. The bike also skidded with almost no change in trajectory. The body was lying perpendicular to the traffic lane with its legs twisted and the right hand clasped under the body, the helmet was 10 meters away. “

As a reminder, this is the third fatal accident with motorcyclists in St. Petersburg since the beginning of May.

Girls now not only play, but also judge hockey / Space Khabarovsk

Photo: Olga Tonkikh
Proofreader: Yulia Ivanova

“If it had not been for the World Bandy Championship last year, I would not have become a judge”

Marina: How did it all start? At the World Bandy Championship last year, I became the coordinator of the VIP volunteers who worked not only with officials, but also with the judges.Therefore, I had to immerse myself in all this “judicial” atmosphere. On group “B” we almost didn’t work in terms of our functionality, but on group “A” we were completely off the ground (laughs). We lived the life of the referees all week: woke me up, held a referee seminar, took me to a planning meeting in the Erofei arena before the match. You know the daily routine of each judge by heart. In general, in a week we almost became a family. That’s how I got involved.

And then after the World Cup some time passed, emotions subsided, but on November 17, after the match between the teams “Ska-Neftyanik” and “Uralskiy Trubnik”, I met a familiar judge from group “A”.We got into a conversation, and again I wanted to plunge into this whole kitchen. No problem! I began to find out, call, write, negotiate – now here is the arbiter.

Another reason why I was brought into refereeing was that there was nowhere to put the energy. Have some free time, why not give it a try? After all, hockey has always been my hobby.

“It turns out that you may not be able to skate”

I was invited to a referee seminar, where I would have already met and talked with referees about my future “career”.There they explained to me that there are two types of refereeing: electronic protocol and, in fact, right in the field. In order to work on a computer and play a game in electronic format, you do not need to be able to skate. And I thought, how is it for me – and not to skate? I need to go straight to the field. There is another girl – Violetta Shabaldina. Here she is just the judge of the electronic protocol, and for a long time.

“My skates are not pink and without bows”

At first, no one took me seriously.“And you have some skills, girl, do you have?”, “We need to look at your skating, otherwise if you don’t stand on skates, then the point” – in the end we agreed on my demonstration performance. On day X, seeing my ice hockey skates, Vadim Vladimirovich Shcherbina, later my mentor, decided that I had rented them (laughs). After my exercises on the ice, they told me: “You will judge!”

Thanks to my past in the women’s ice hockey team for excellent skating. While you are in hockey uniform, falling is not scary and you can learn everything, and then it doesn’t matter what you are wearing, because you know and can.

“Women’s refereeing is not nonsense.There are precedents in the West, but why are we worse? Now women’s hockey is developing rapidly, there are a lot of competitions. The main thing is to prepare our female judges. There is no matriarchy, but a woman is not inferior to a man even in bandy! ” – Vadim Shcherbina, judge of the all-Union category.

“How to be an arbiter? There are no such rules “

If you open the rules of the ball hockey game, general points are written there: what form the players should have, the size of the field, prohibited techniques.And what the judge should do is not written anywhere. Information about where to run, where to be, what gestures should be, we ourselves learn from various sources.

The first lesson for any arbiter is theoretical. The second is practice. I went to children’s training and realized that I could not blow a whistle (laughs). Do you think it’s easy? I thought so too, until I tried it myself. Double whistle, triple, short, musical, to keep it loud. And then at the games, as usual, it happens: everyone is shouting, the stands are noisy, you can’t even hear each other.But everyone should hear the whistle.

Another way of teaching, which is practiced by Vadim Vladimirovich,
–
watching the game.We come to the Major League matches and watch the behavior of the players, the refereeing, the gestures.

But practice is always cooler than theory, so I often make judgments in children’s training, which is not as easy as it seems.

“Do we have a girlfriend?”

The reaction of the children who see me on the field is touching.It doesn’t matter to them at all whether the girl will judge them or the man. As they played, they play, they just smile more;)

But the parents are surprised at first, and then delighted. There was an incident at the Christmas tournament. The second day of matches, not all of the parents have attended the games yet. In the interval between the halves I drive up to get the covers (they were lying near the parental stands), and then the exclamation: “Is the girl judging us? Blimey!”. And I was very pleased from a professional point of view that on the field I was not distinguished from a man, which means that I am doing everything right.

“Thank you for your trust”

There are two girls in our judging team, therefore there is a lot of attention.Everyone wants to help, give advice, support. This makes it more comfortable to work. You know that no one will leave you in trouble, and will also help, tell you, take you with you to judge.

It’s nice to know that I am perceived with everyone at the same level. They do not give indulgences or, conversely, communicate condescendingly, because I am a girl. The men entrusted me with the field, this is the main thing.

How to become an arbitrator

Step one .If you have a lot of time, you can write to the official twitter of the Ska-Neftyanik team and wait.

Step two. If you are impatient by nature, you need to call or write to Oleg Zufarovich Ziganshin, chairman of the board of the Khabarovsk regional and city bandy federations. He will explain and tell you everything in detail.

Women’s motorcycle equipment

If for the majority of the male half of humanity, when choosing motorcycle equipment, safety, functionality and comfort come first, then for the fair half everything is a little different – protection by protection, but women’s motorcycle equipment should be beautiful first of all!

Let’s discuss the key features that you need to pay attention to when choosing a motorcycle bike for a girl.

The first thing I want to start with is that the set of motorcycle equipment for girls is no different from men’s, it is described in detail in the article “Choosing motorcycle equipment for a beginner”, and consists of:

1. Motorcycle helmet;
2. Motobots;
3. Gloves;
4. Jacket and pants (or motorcycle suit).

In terms of safety, women’s outfit is no different from men’s: protective inserts in the same places are made of the same materials.

The only difference is in the cut and shape – due to the peculiarities of the female figure and in the design – “Do all girls love pink ?!”

Cut, shape and size should be discussed separately.

Helmet

Let’s start with a motorcycle helmet. The structure of the skull of a man and a woman has some differences:

• Male head: larger, sloping frontal part, more massive jaw, skull like an oval with large brow ridges and rounded upper edges of the eye sockets.
• Female head: smaller, the frontal part is clearly vertical, smaller and sharpened facial features, the oval is rounded.

Due to these features, for the helmet to be as comfortable as possible, the shape of the women’s motorcycle helmet should be slightly different.

The choice on the market is quite modest: Schuberth, Alpinestars, Harley-Davidson.

Men’s and women’s helmets are different.

Motorcycle jacket and / or turtle

Here, it is obvious that the difference is connected with the peculiarity of the structure of the female figure – the breast.

In jackets, everything is decided by the cut, which takes into account the anatomical features of the female body. Plus, the back should be additionally covered with shock-absorbing materials, and there should be special ventilation ducts in the chest and back area.The seams in the neck and armpits on the women’s equipment should be flexible.

The stitches in the neck and armpits must be movable.

In the tortoise, the issue is solved by the presence of impact-resistant plastic that repeats the shape of the female breast.

It’s simpler here, quite a lot of manufacturers are engaged in sewing equipment for girls, among the famous ones can be noted: Alpinestars, Klim, BMW.

Motoboots

The female foot, in addition to being small in comparison with the male, has a number of anatomical features – it already has a different calf shape.In this connection, personally, I do not recommend taking male models of just smaller sizes. Also, women’s motorcycle shoes are distinguished by a sophisticated, more interesting design.

And, of course, heels! One of the main distinguishing features of women’s everyday wardrobe from men’s is the presence of shoes with high, thin and graceful heels – stilettos! Motorboot manufacturers know this little feminine weakness, so in the assortment of some manufacturers you can find motorboots with heels: from small and wide, to graceful high stilettos (though you will have to try to find the latter).

Only, please, do not forget that safety is still in the first place, and motorcycle shoes with heels have a number of disadvantages:

• Unnatural position of the leg, due to which there is a risk of dislocating or breaking the leg;
• Weak level of protection;
• The heel may catch on parts of the motorcycle.

When buying such a specific motorcycle footwear, pay attention to:

• Stability of the heel, it should not wobble and you should feel confident on it;
• There is a proper level of protection: durable material – preferably leather, there is protection for the toe and shin;
• Waterproof footwear;
• Motobots fit for you – they are not big and do not press, they fit well and do not slip off your feet;
• The bot has an anti-slip sole.