February 12, 2025
A new study from the University of Wisconsin- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health found that wearing soft-shell helmet covers had no effect on the rate of sports-related concussions for high school football players during practice, researchers said Wednesday.
Guardian Cap helmet devices have grown in popularity in recent years, aiming to add protection against head injuries and concussions.
The research team conducting the study compared concussion rates of more than 2,600 Wisconsin high school football players among 41 teams during the 2023 season. Researchers said 1,188 players did not wear Guardian caps during practice, and 1,451 players did. There was no statistical difference between the groups.
Researchers noted of the 64 concussions reported during practice, 33 were from players using Guardian Caps and 31 were those without caps.
The caps were not worn during games.
Dr. Erin Hammer was the study’s lead author and is an assistant professor in the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
“Unfortunately, we found that using these devices may provide false reassurance to players and their parents who are hoping to reduce their kids’ risk of concussion,” Dr. Hammer said.
Dr. Hammer warned that the study cannot be generalized to collegiate and professional levels of football, because those players use a different, thicker model of the device.
Researchers advised the use of athletic trainers and supporting rule changes to limit contact during practices are data-backed ways to prevent head injuries.
“Rule changes, particularly those on kickoff, have shown to reduce the risk of concussion,” Dr. Hammer said. “When coaches participate in tackling education sessions, those can prevent the risk of concussion. Also having an athletic trainer on the sideline who can help identify these injuries, which can be fairly nuanced, is important to identify those athletes and remove them from play to protect their brains.”
The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.