Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Effect of ice hockey helmet fit on cervical spine motion during an emergency log roll procedure
Jason P Mihalik1, Josh R Beard, Meredith A Petschauer
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. jmihalik@email.unc.edu
Objective:
To investigate cervical spine motion during a log roll technique in ice hockey players under different helmet fit conditions.
Design:
Prospective counterbalanced design.
Setting:
University research laboratory.
Participants:
Eighteen club ice hockey players were recruited to participate in this study.
Assessment Of Risk Factors:
A standard emergency log roll was performed 3 times under each of 3 different helmet fit conditions: properly fit, improperly (competition) fit, and helmet-removed.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Frontal, sagittal, and transverse plane cervical spine motion were used as outcome measures.
Results:
Significantly less sagittal and transverse plane motion occurred during the helmet-removed condition. No differences in frontal plane motion among the 3 conditions were observed.
Conclusions:
Presence of helmet (whether properly fit or not) resulted in increased of sagittal and transverse plane movement. This suggests that when an ice hockey helmet is stabilized, the head within it is not. We recommend the helmet and face shield be removed before performing an emergency prone log roll.
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