Neck Braces or No Neck Braces!
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 - 12:23pm
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge if any of the riders with broken necks recently (i.e. Ross Maeda) if they were wearing neck braces or not. But read this great article by Cyclenews.com and lets discuss.
http://mxinsiders.blogspot.com/2009/11/neck-brace-revolution-article-sobering.html
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 - 11:43am
#2
50/50. I will be wearing the A-Stars soon, I gave my Leatt to a younger guy who needed it more 
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 - 10:25am
#3
btw, the FIM and the French federation have launched a study this year on neck-braces in order to make a decision in the short future on whether to impose neck protection in racing, or not.
From a post I read on a French forum, they should come with a final call soon.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 - 10:25am
#4
I think it would be a good idea to make them mandatory.
I wear a Leatt, but Im thinking of selling it to score the new Astars brace since its suppose to better on the collarbone injuries.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 - 5:42pm
#5
I look forward to that review from the FIM, I guess the best thing is that people are putting great time and probably $$ into the research and testing of injury prevention. Heck Dainese has an airbag system that is being tested in MotoGP by Jorge Lorenzo, how cool is that. Maybe an airbag setup is the next evolution in motorcycle injury prevention, you could protect the neck and back all at the same time.
Here is a brief video with the concept behind the suit.
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 - 8:37pm
#6
John look at this pic below and see how our airbag actually incorporate some cervical/neck protection too.
Wed, Dec 02, 2009 - 12:47am
#7
Wow, that is interesting combining neck stabilization with the back protection, that is ultimately what the current neck support systems lack is back support, seems like that could work for mx/sx as well. cool thx for sharing.
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 - 11:54pm
#8
So which brace do you think is the best at protecting your neck? I have been reading and rereading this all weekend long. Each company has their own philosophy about how to protect your neck. Before reading this I was just going to buy a Leatt Adventure. Now I am kind of thinking about the EVS. The EVS philosophy is interesting because they say your head should be able to roll forward and be tucked in and the energy gets deflected away from the collarbone. Leatt doesn't allow this kind of movement, and allegedly causes broken collarbones. I am confused. Someone tell me what to do!!! The Alpinestars is out because of the price. The 661 is out because it has not been proven on the track yet and I have never been and "early adopter".
Mon, Jan 04, 2010 - 9:56pm
#9
wow that is a very interesting product i wonder how much shock i will take before it reacts.
i wear a leatt and it just feels natural and i wear it for any motosports i participate in
Tue, Jan 12, 2010 - 8:54pm
#10
I just got my Leatt Adventure in the mail today. It doesn't seem to want to work with my chest protector yet. I need to mess with it some more I suppose.
Thu, Jan 14, 2010 - 10:02am
#11
superorbital wrote:
I just got my Leatt Adventure in the mail today. It doesn't seem to want to work with my chest protector yet. I need to mess with it some more I suppose.
What kind of chest protector? probably need to cut some of the shoulder pads.
Thu, Jan 14, 2010 - 4:39pm
#12
Did Ross broke his neck or broke his back?
Fri, Jan 15, 2010 - 10:38am
#13
shenzi rubani wrote:
Did Ross broke his neck or broke his back?
Broke his lower back.
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 - 7:42am
#14
I am not a Doctor and most of us are not so we need independent third party testing done on all these neck devices and a standard set. Something similar to DOT/SNELL/CE for helmets. Who is telling us that neck braces are good right now? Marketing people not Doctors. These devices have gotten a lot of good press however a journalist, again is not qualified to comment on anything other than feel, look, price and design.
In response to some comments above: The Alpinestars product is now only a few dollars more than an Adventure brace. You can still break vertebrae in a neck brace because it is supposed to protect some of the Cervical vertebrae.
Homework assignment: break down the list of materials that these devices are made up of and factor in packaging and assembly costs. Compare that to what they retail for. Ok granted you can argue that there are R&D costs but aren't all these things still the exact same as when they were launched just with different colors now?
The initial wave of fear about neck injuries has now subsided and it is time to rationalize I believe. I will put my neck brace back on (or throw it in the trash) when I see the independent test results and a testing standard established.
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 - 9:23am
#15
Very good post 721. There is right now an ongoing FIM/European investigation on neck-brace, involving a few institutions over there, in order to come to a conclusion as to what to do with making them mandatory, or not. The European Union is also looking at it as a few, including 1 famous brand, are trying to push to get an ECE rating on those.
Right now it is still ongoing and will take about 2 years before something comes out as doctors along researchers, regulation people, etc are involved.
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 - 10:52am
#16
I had a real bad crash in 08 that put in a coma for a 2 days. In that crash I broke my Leatt in 3 places! Dr at the hospital said it probably saved my life. I then went for followups to my orthopedic and I described the Leatt to him and what happened. He also said it was good that I was wearing it and then asked for me to bring in my brace and helmet at my next appointment so that he could examine it and see how it works. After putting them on he moved my head to different positions. He said that eventhough he cant say for sure, he was confident that the brace did saved me from paralysis/death. He also said the Leatt was a really nice product and that it appears as it would work well. I pointed out how the brace can cause broken collarbones and he definitly agreed and said his only other issue with it would be the front a rear stabilizers. He said it would take some weird body movements and heavy impact crash that those stabilizers could cause sevrer injuries to the mid spine and upper chest. After all said and done though, he said that if he was stupid enough to get on a dirtbike that he would wear one for sure
I look at it this way, am I 100% sure a neck brace with prevent a broken neck? No. Am I 100% sure a helmet will prevent a concussion? No. Am I 100% sure MX boots will prenvet a boken ankle? No. But one thing I am 100% sure of, wearing them will definitly HELP prevent those injuries.
Fri, Apr 02, 2010 - 5:41pm
#17
I agree. Nothing is going to protect you 100%, but I I'll take all the help I can get. And to answer all the critics about nect braces causing broken collar bones, what would you rather have, a broken collar bone or a broken neck? Until I have documented proof that neck braces offer no protection, I will continue to wear one.
Sat, Apr 03, 2010 - 1:40pm
#18
ok but where is the proof that they protect from anything?
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 5:18am
#19
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 6:43am
#20
My only concern with neck brace is the rear piece that extends directly over the spine and halfway down the back. To me, that is a leverage point that could cause damage.
A rising amateur named Eric Saunders was wearing a neck brace when he broke his back and is now paralyzed. I saw a video of his very emotional father explaining the accident and he implied that Eric’s back was broke because of the neck brace. I know of another incident where a rider broke his back (he recovered) right where the rear extension ends. Not sure of the neck brace caused it.
My son wears an EVS and we have had discussed moving back to a neck doughnut a number of times. Something is needed for sure but as has already been stated, we really need a report from third party testing.
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 6:44am
#21
My only concern with neck brace is the rear piece that extends directly over the spine and halfway down the back. To me, that is a leverage point that could cause damage.
A rising amateur named Eric Saunders was wearing a neck brace when he broke his back and is now paralyzed. I saw a video of his very emotional father explaining the accident and he implied that Eric’s back was broke because of the neck brace. I know of another incident where a rider broke his back (he recovered) right where the rear extension ends. Not sure of the neck brace caused it.
My son wears an EVS and we have had discussed moving back to a neck doughnut a number of times. Something is needed for sure but as has already been stated, we really need a report from third party testing.
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 6:44am
#22
My only concern with neck brace is the rear piece that extends directly over the spine and halfway down the back. To me, that is a leverage point that could cause damage.
A rising amateur named Eric Saunders was wearing a neck brace when he broke his back and is now paralyzed. I saw a video of his very emotional father explaining the accident and he implied that Eric’s back was broke because of the neck brace. I know of another incident where a rider broke his back (he recovered) right where the rear extension ends. Not sure of the neck brace caused it.
My son wears an EVS and we have had discussed moving back to a neck doughnut a number of times. Something is needed for sure but as has already been stated, we really need a report from third party testing.
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 6:44am
#23
My only concern with neck brace is the rear piece that extends directly over the spine and halfway down the back. To me, that is a leverage point that could cause damage.
A rising amateur named Eric Saunders was wearing a neck brace when he broke his back and is now paralyzed. I saw a video of his very emotional father explaining the accident and he implied that Eric’s back was broke because of the neck brace. I know of another incident where a rider broke his back (he recovered) right where the rear extension ends. Not sure of the neck brace caused it.
My son wears an EVS and we have had discussed moving back to a neck doughnut a number of times. Something is needed for sure but as has already been stated, we really need a report from third party testing.
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 - 6:51am
#24
My only concern with a neck brace is the rear piece that extends directly over the spine and half way down the back. To me, that is a leverage point that could cause damage.
A rising amateur named Eric Saunders was wearing a neck brace when he broke his back and is now paralyzed. His father seemed to imply in a video that he sons back broke because of the neck braces. I know of another rider that broke his back while wearing a neck brace (he recovered) right where the rear extension ends. Not sure of the neck brace caused it.
My son wears and EVS and we have discussed the pros and cons a couple of times and even thought of going back to a doughnut. There is no doubt that something is needed, we really need a third party to publish a report.
I wear a leatt and will continue to do so. I feel naked without it.