It been well established that the cervical muscles may play a role in preventing head impact severity among football players (62,64,65). Dr. Mickey Collins, assistant director of the Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, agrees. “We believe one of the best ways to prevent concussions is actually neck strength. Having a strong neck allows the forces of the blow taken from the
A recent study at the University of Nebraska reports the brain hippocampus which transfers short term memory to long term memory found football players without history of concussions the hippocampus was 5/6 (84%) of normal size and those with concussion history 3/4 (75%) normal size, their conclusion “OVER TIME the SMALLER KNOCKS still ADD UP” (59). However these findings did not show that these brain changes are linked to impaired
Football linemen experience more sub-concussive impacts than any position in football and are taught to strike using their hands and extend the arms at initial contact to control the opponent and protect the head and neck, but what happens when a size mismatch occurs? When a smaller lineman strikes a much larger lineman using the hands and attempts to extend the arms, the size of the larger linemen at
The Sports Legacy Institute‘s co-founder Chris Nowinski stated “high school football linemen do not have the strength in the hands and arms to effectively protect the head and neck during contact as compared to higher level players ” (ref #22). The Football Safety Academy agrees with Chris Nowinski’s statement but recognizes size discrepancy between linemen as a very critical contributing factor for linemen not having the strength to effectively use
The average high school football player receives 600 – 2,000 blows per season to the head depending on the number of games, practice format and player’s personal style of play; this stat does not differentiate between g-force of the blow. (ref #12) The Football Safety Academy understands the importance of the summer program to improve player safety through conditioning, strength and movement skill development. The Football Safety Academy supports the
The Football Safety Academy acknowledges the coach has the responsibility to decide which football techniques should be taught for the well being and safety of his players and there is not one specific technique including the Hulk Shrug Technique or safety device that can completely eliminate the risk of injury from impacts related to football including catastrophic injury and death. To the knowledge of the Football Safety Academy no specific research has been done regarding the Hulk Shrug Technique, however the Football Safety Academy is actively pursuing this goal.
