Anyone who has played a contact sport, like football or hockey, has had to wear a helmet. The same is true for other sports, like cycling and skiing. Helmets reduce the risk of severe head trauma if an injury does occur. Helmets worn by football players in the 1920s were made of leather and provided little protection. Today, helmets have several layers of padding, surrounded by a plastic or polycarbonate shell.
This week on WRVO health and wellness show Take Care, hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen talk with Dr. Stefan Duma, a professor of engineering and the founding director of the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics. Dr. Duma's research includes the development and implementation of the STAR ratings system to help consumers choose the safest helmets for playing football and hockey.
You can hear more of the conversation on Take Care, Saturday at 6:30a.m. and Sunday at 6:30p.m. Support for this story comes from The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.