With the Super Bowl on Sunday, doctors are questioning the effectiveness of the helmet enhancements that the NFL says reduce the risk of concussions.
They’re called “Guardian Caps,” and the NFL touts them as a game changer against concussions; however, the maker of the caps says it has nothing to do with concussions.
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Dr. Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion and CTE Foundation, told KNX News’ Karen Adams that both are misleading the public.
“What nobody, neither the NFL nor Guardian Caps, has been telling the consumer is that they are two different products, and so they're using NFL hype to sell a product that does not work to high school football players,” he said. “If this were a medical device, which it sort of is, it would be regulated, and this company would be in tremendous trouble.”
He said the NXT model worn by pro and college athletes is not the same as the cheaper XT one that kids wear, and agrees with a New York Times article questioning the science behind the helmet.
“As the top researcher on helmets said in the New York Times article, the benefits are just not there,” he said. “There is no statistical difference between players wearing the guarding cap and not wearing the guarding cap.”
He added that the marketing of the caps by the NFL and its maker gives a false sense of security.
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