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| The last column discussed what sports injuries are and how to assess their severity. This column will tell you what to do when you have an acute sports injury. The three main goals... read more |
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| Acute Sports Injuries are traumatic in nature. Some are very dramatic such as when Mike Foligno broke his leg at centre ice the season before last. Although his was a bone injury m... read more |
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Marla
Pichler |
B.Sc., R. PT - Marla graduated from the faculty of Physiotherapy at the University of Toronto in 1982. From 1983 – 1988 Marla was the traveling therapist for the Canadi... read more |
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Helmets Helmets Helmets | Tuesday, April 11, 2006 |
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 As spring approaches we see everyone outside being active. Along with the walkers and joggers I see a lot of cyclists and the new fad rollerbladers. The streets and parks are filled with people going faster and faster on their wheels. This brings me to the topic of this column; HELMETS.
The most important part of our body and the most vulnerable is the head. Although we do all of our thinking with the head it is the part that we often least protect. This somehow does not make sense. We have to protect ourselves and our children. I will discuss the use of helmets as it pertains to the following sports.
HOCKEY: The season is ending but recent events make me want to mention a few facts. Recently Michel Goulet suffered a severe head injury when he struck his head into the boards. He was wearing an uncertified helmet. Certainly if he was wearing better head protection the injury would not have been as severe. Luckily the injury was not even worse. Dr. Tom Pashby and the rest of us who work for the Canadian Standards Association(CSA) have worked very hard to define a standard for hockey helmets.
Although the children playing organized hockey have to wear certified helmets the old timers and those playing unorganized hockey do not. I encourage everyone to wear a C.S.A. certified helmet all the time and not be as foolish as some of the professionals.
CYCLING: This is the largest group I want to get through to today. Cycling has become more and more popular over the last few years. Each year in Canada there are between 100-130 deaths to cyclists. Not all of these involve collisions with other cars as there have been serious accidents from cyclists hitting other cyclists or other obstacles such as the road and trees. The bicycle makes the rider even more at risk than a person riding a motor cycle. Head injury accounts for 70% of all hospitalizations from cycling injuries. Head injuries are the major cause of death in 70-80% of all bicycle related deaths and cycling is the single most common cause of head injuries in children. Wearing an approved helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%.
The bicycle death rate rises rapidly from age 5 and peaks in the 13-16 year age group.
Deaths are not the only serious outcome of head injuries from cycling. Those that survive may suffer from epilepsy, permanent intellectual and memory impairment, and personality changes.
In recent reviews from Calgary and Florida none of the patients who had brain trauma were wearing a helmet. An estimated FIFTY deaths and 6000 injuries could be prevented in Canada if helmets were worn by all cyclists.
With great hoopla Bob Rae announced the mandatory use of helmets in cycling a couple of years ago. We are still waiting for the legislation. Think of the number of lives that would be saved let alone the savings in health care. Educational campaigns have shown only limited increase in the number of helmet wearers while legislation has shown large increases. What is our government waiting for?????
ROLLARBLADING: This is perhaps the fastest growing leisure activity in the streets of Canada. It is hard to drive around any suburbia without seeing people blading around. Very few if any are wearing helmets. Although I have not heard of any statistics on head injuries in rollarbladers it is my suspicion that we will start hearing about them soon. As they roll through the city streets without being able to stop or turn quickly, it is only a matter of time before we see some serious injuries. It is with this in mind that I feel that the same rules should apply to bladers as applies to cyclists.
In conclusion, until the government legislates the use of helmets I encourage all of you no matter what your age or ability to wear a CSA, ANSI, or SNELL approved helmet for the above activities.
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