Want to cut concussions in the NHL? Build a better shoulder pad says SFU researcher

A mere two centimetres of foam rubber could make a big difference in saving the brains of NHL players according to a new study out ofSimon FraserUniversity.

The research was motivated by the fact that 42 per cent of all concussions suffered in the NHL occur asa result of shoulder-to-head hits.

SFU hockey shoulder pad research

8 years ago

Duration 0:07

Player throws a hard should-to-head check on the SFU research dummy. Shoulder pads modified with extra foam were proven to reduced the severity of the hit.

Researcherstested theforce of shoulder-to-head hits generated by using players wearing stock shoulder pads versus ones modified with an extra layer of soft polyurethane foam on the outside of the shoulder cap.

"The approach we took is that hitting is part of the game, but it's problematic for brain health," said engineering science professorStephen Robinovitch.

"Helmets are not designed to prevent concussion ... and rule changesin the NHL to avoid targeting the head have not resulted in adecrease in concussions.So we need to find a way to make the brain safer."

For the study, 15 hockey players from the SFU men's team and other hitting leagues were asked to throw"the hardest shoulder checks they were comfortable delivering" to the head aresearchdummy set up to measureforce and impact.

On average, the dummy registered 25 per cent less head accelerationand 12 per cent less rotational force when hit by the pads modified with the extra foam.

Those reductions in force are important because concussions result from hits or whiplash movements to the head that are strong enough to make the brain to move and hit the opposite side of the scull.

"An additional layer of softer foam has a relatively huge effect onreducingthe severity of a hit," said Robinovitch.

In fact, no player in the study was able to throw a hit wearing the modified shoulder pads that created a G-force of over 60, widely thought to be near the lowestthreshold of force which can leave a player concussed.

Robinovitchsays he hopes to present the study to the NHL and to hockey equipment manufacturers.

"This could be one tool in the toolbox to make the game safer."