New Helmet May Significantly Reduce Forces To Neck During Head-first Impact

University of British Columbia researchers have invented a sports helmet that reduces direct impact to the neck by up to 56 per cent, according to preliminary tests. “Existing helmets are not designed to protect the neck and the cervical region of the spine, which happens to be the weakest,” says co-inventor Peter Cripton, a Mechanical Engineering assistant professor in the Faculty of Applied Science. Comment: There are many head and neck injuries in sports leading to paralysis, particularly from two wheeled vehicles, horse riding, off road racing for example, all of which would benefit from an improved helmet