Helmets And Mouthguards Don't Prevent Concussions, Doctors Agree
Staying Protected Kids play football at a White House-sponsored event. Helmets and mouth guards are important for protecting against some injuries, but don't prevent concussions, a new consensus document found. A new "consensus statement" on sports concussions deals with protective equipment and sports rules, among other things. Existing helmets and mouthguards protect athletes' teeth and faces, but not their brains, according to a new international document. That's one of several findings from the latest "Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport," which was signed off by several major international sports organizations, as well as researchers from Australia, North America and Europe. Meant to summarize doctors' most up-to-date knowledge about concussions, the consensus statements-this is the fourth one since 2001-have guidelines for everybody from peewee players to weekend warriors to professional athletes. There's no good clinical evidence that helmets and mouthguards prevent concussions, the consensus group, which gathered in Switzerland last November, found. Studies...