Category: Research

Helmet Safety Questioned Again

SportsWe noted earlier today that the European Cycling Federation is questioning whether enforcing helmets to be worn for cycling could actually keep people off bikes, but could helmets be to blame for concussions in youth sports?

A new study released by the Institute of Medicine is looking at the controversy surrounding concussions in youth sports. This study, which focused on sports-related brain injuries, apparently points to a startling lack of data in the youth demographic.

“Little to no youth and high school programs place an emphasis on strengthening the neck, which is one of the most important exercises to help prevent concussions,” said Dan Geraci M.S., head strength coach at Hard Pressed. He added that concussions often go unreported as parents are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of a concussion. In addition, the data from the study suggests that helmets and mouth guards may be providing a false sense of security and safety. “We need to educate parents and coaches on the proper measures for protecting our young athletes,” Geraci added.

Study: Sports-Related Concussions in Youth

Weekend Reading List (11.02.2013): Bike Sales Up, Urban Rolls Outdoors, Aim High, Food to Run

Bike Sales UpAuto-Sales

From BikeRadar: Bikes outsold cars in UK and Europe in 2012…
New figures suggest bikes are selling faster than cars across most of Europe, despite another set of data saying bikes sales are declining as well. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.02.2013): Bike Sales Up, Urban Rolls Outdoors, Aim High, Food to Run

No Safer Helmet Says Report

Football-HelmetFootball season is in high gear. But there is some sobering news out that suggests that when it comes to younger players there is no such thing as a “safer” helmet. The American Academy of Pediatrics has noted the findings of a study last week that found there are about 40,000 sports-related concussions in high school football each year! This may occur from misdiagnosis in-game, but the study noted that that it is unlikely that the players’ equipment factored in. The study involved 1,332 football players at 36 high schools during the 2012 football season. What the study did find was that the more expensive helmets may not be offering enhanced protection.

In the abstract, “Association of Helmet Brand and Mouth Guard Type with Incidence of Sport Related Concussion in High School Football Players,” researchers tested various mouth guard brands, including custom-fit mouth guards, and new and older football helmets.

“Our preliminary findings suggest that neither any specific brand of football helmet nor custom mouth guards result in fewer concussions in kids who use them,” said lead co-investigator Margaret Alison Brooks, MD, MPH, FAAP. “Despite what manufacturers might claim, newer and more expensive equipment may not reduce concussion risk. So is it worth the significant extra cost to families and schools?”

[Press Release: Can the ‘right’ helmet prevent concussions?]

Microsoft Kinect Used to Help Visually Impaired Do Yoga

YogaWhat is the woman in the photo above doing wrong? To those of us that don’t do yoga it looks like a typical yoga pose, but this is actually the incorrect Warrior II pose. For those who are visually impaired it might be hard to follow to visual cues when doing yoga. Now researchers at the University of Washington have developed a program, dubbed the Eyes-Free Yoga, which utilizes the Microsoft Kinect software to track body movements and provide auditory cues in real time for six popular yoga poses.

“My hope for this technology is for people who are blind or low-vision to be able to try it out, and help give a basic understanding of yoga in a more comfortable setting,” said project lead Kyle Rector, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering. Continue reading Microsoft Kinect Used to Help Visually Impaired Do Yoga

Smart Money Bets on Wearable Devices

SmartwatchThe smart money might be looking at the smart wearable device market, which could be worth $19 billion by 2018 according to a new study by Juniper Research. Revenues will be driven by high price points for these devices allied to their anticipated strong market demand.

The Smart Wearable Devices: Fitness, Healthcare, Entertainment & Enterprise: 2013-2108 forecasts that the emergence of a host of players competing against each other could drive the market, while competition is expected to intensify.

“It is worth observing that this change in adoption levels can also be attributable to heightened consumer awareness of wearable technology and a better visibility of product adoption, especially in the smart watch segment,” said report author Nitin Bhas.

Smart Wearable Devices: Fitness, Healthcare, Entertainment & Enterprise: 2013-2108 Report Website

Weekend Reading List (10.19.2013): Off Peak, Custom Ride, 3D Health

Off Peak

London

From BikeRadar: London tackles lorry danger with off peak delivery trials
Lorries – a frequent cause of serious and fatal injuries to commuter cyclists – could become scarcer in the London rush hour under plans to trial more early morning and night time deliveries. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (10.19.2013): Off Peak, Custom Ride, 3D Health

It’s Snow Time in Washington

SIA-NSAAThe snow sports industry has seen some ups and downs the last couple of years, and last month board members from SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the snow sports industry’s member-owned trade association, along with National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) board members, joined forces in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to grow participation and to lobby around regulatory and trade issues currently affecting the snow sports industry.

While the meeting looked at efforts to expand snow sport participation programs, including Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend Challenge, some other important issues were discussed.

SIA and NSAA spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress and their key staff members focusing on five main issues – Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, Miscellaneous Tarriff Bill, TSA Policy for Avalanche Air Bag Canisters, Water Rights for Land Resorts and Immigration and Visas. Continue reading It’s Snow Time in Washington

Weekend Reading List (10.12.2013): UniRider, Shoe Hole, Football Tech

UniRider

UniRiderFrom Gear Junkie: Man Rides Unicycle On 525-Mile Bike Tour
Riding 525 miles on a bicycle is a solid physical challenge. Grandfather of five Mark Massie made it tougher, opting to ride the entire California Coast Classic Bike Tour on a unicycle. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (10.12.2013): UniRider, Shoe Hole, Football Tech

Safety First

SG-HelmetsBill Simpson is known as the “godfather of safety” within the auto racing industry and he has taken his knowledge with Simpson Performance Products and Impact! Racing to the gridiron. He is looking to transform football the way he did with racing.

The result is SG Helmets, a football helmet manufacturing company that he created with former CART driver Chip Ganassi. Unlike typical football helmets the SG Helmets are unique in the sense that the liner is made from a blend of expanded polypropylene foams, and thus forms one continuous pad throughout the inside of the helmet, leaving no space unpadded. SG Helmets further weigh about half as much as an average football helmet, relieving unnecessary stress on players heads, necks and shoulders.

SG Helmets Official Website

The Colt Takes Aim

Colt-HockeyThe has been a move to composite hockey sticks over the years, but these come at a cost – namely that the sticks cost around $300 or so. However, Daniel Lucchesi sees that these offer an advantage over wooden sticks, and he’s launched Colt Hockey to create composite sticks that are covered in nano-tech cladding that makes these virtually unbreakable.

These sticks are no less inflexible or heavy than traditional composite sticks, and Lucchesi is looking to Kickstarter to raise funding to bring these to market.

The coating, which was licensed from Canadian based Integran Technologies, was developed for hydraulic components in the aerospace and defense markets. This process, which is similar in concept to chrome plating, adds a thin layer of the nanocrystalline that gives the sticks a steel-like durability, but allows the stick to remain flexible. This could be one hockey stick that is ready to take aim. Video after the jump

Scosche Pledges To the Cure, Gets in the Pink

ScoscheScosche announced that it will donate 10 percent of all October proceeds from purchases made on its site to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. And while the company is encouraging it customers to purchase pink versions of some of its most popular products to show their support for the fight against breast cancer all products and color variations will be counted toward the contribution.

Kudos to Scosche for helping fight this terrible disease.

Scosche Official Website