American Football Soft-Shell Helmet Covers Reduce Head Impact Severity: A Critically Appraised Topic

Abstract

Focused Clinical Question: Do soft-shell helmet covers reduce head impact severity in American football helmets? Clinical Bottom Line: There is consistent SORT level C evidence to support that soft-shell helmet covers reduce measures of head impact severity and measures of linear and rotational acceleration. The impact reductions occurred at magnitudes less than the average reported concussive impact, which limits the application of the evidence with respect to concussion incidence or risk among American football players.