... hopefully not something like this!  

 

1 hour ago, JTR said:

I wasn't being smart.

Just wondering how it'd be done and what exercises would specifically target muscles in neck.

It's obviously not something like arms, legs or core which you can train more directly...

I wrestled as a teenager and did bridging exercises which strengthen the neck. There are exercises that can strengthen the area. 

1 hour ago, JTR said:

I wasn't being smart.

Just wondering how it'd be done and what exercises would specifically target muscles in neck.

It's obviously not something like arms, legs or core which you can train more directly...

I have seen them lying sideways on a bench with a weight hanging from their head holding it up.

18 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

@Webber is there any evidence that the brain has less free play up and down inside the skull because it's anchored by the spinal cord, compared with horizontal free play?

I had a bicycle accident where I flew at speed across the bonnet of a right hand turning car car and landed flush on top of my head/helmet on the road.  The helmet was destroyed and I believe it saved my life - otherwise my skull would have been crushed.  While I was pretty dazed until the ambulance came, I didn't have any lasting concussion symptoms.  Lucky no spinal injury too!!!  I'm a big fan of bicycle helmets.

I'm not sure the spinal cord is such a good 'anchor' F-5, as sufficient traction on the brain stem is effectively a death sentence. I don't doubt your helmet saved your skull, that's why they're absolutely worth wearing. Anyone who doesn't is nutty! 

17 hours ago, daisycutter said:

agree with all that webber

....however... there is some evidence coming out that some helmet material can reduce (slightly) the rate of acceleration. there was research published here on demonland about that. i've forgotten the company/brand for the moment. a small improvement in some cases could make a difference

No doubt some materials can absorb some of the forces, but at levels that won't protect against serious brain injury, so they're about as useful as braces to protect against instability in knees. The interesting aspect is whether the degree to which they absorb force would be practical (headgear wise) to wear on the footy oval, where the forces are less (as compared to car/bike) and thus able to prevent concussion. My suspicion is they'd all be running around with bubble-heads. Maybe in the future though. 

I too have had 2 bike accidents. Helmet cracked on both occasions. Would have had a cracked skull otherwise.

I had forgotten just how good this kid is...sensational comeback. Let's hope he continues to prosper and becomes the absolute star his talent suggest he could be. 

As for the question can exercises strengthen the neck, take a look at the NRL folks!

 

16 hours ago, JTR said:

I wasn't being smart.

Just wondering how it'd be done and what exercises would specifically target muscles in neck.

It's obviously not something like arms, legs or core which you can train more directly...

The the biggest emphasis is given to the muscle 'pillars' in the neck, upper trapezius (the no-neck rugby front-rower) and sterno-cleido mastoid (the diagonal running muscle that runs from base of skull to top of breast bone). New Zealand rugby has had good results in reducing spinal cord injury in juniors by emphasising the training of neck muscles. Spinal cord injuries are almost unheard of in pro-rugby. There's no downside to strengthening these neck muscles of course, except aesthetically, but the issue with whiplash and unexpected impact forces is the speed of response of these muscles being inadequate to prevent the contre-cous effect to the brain. In respect to Gus Brayshaw, they will have appropriately tackled the issue from every angle, but I reckon the biggest effect will be gained from his modified awareness of how he positions his body in contests. 

19 hours ago, don't make me angry said:

All kids wear helmets gives them a false sense that the helmet blocks the pain, so they lead with their heads, helmets teach people to not worry about protecting their heads, and I think it is not being taught in  junior footy to protect their heads because coaches think the helmet

Agree with most of this. Many young players coming into the afl these days seem to lead with their head, rather than instinctively turning at the point of impact and hitting with the shoulder - as i was taught as a kid (and as gus seemingly is being taught now).

I'm not sure however it is as a result of helmets. They might be a factor but i wonder if it is more to do with the emphasis on players 'putting their head over the ball' and the praise these 'brave' acts get.

I know there has been research done about concussion rates in afl/vfl but i cant recall the results. Whilst there have always been concussions in footy i wonder if back in the day they were more to do with legal off the ball heavy hits that are now banned (think pickett) or people being punched to the head than the frequent head to head clashes we now get.

An obvious issue with head to head clashes is it is two heads being hurt. Whilst brayshaw might have been lucky the saints player wasn't and in addition to concussion copped a burst ear drum.

The other possible problem is that the issue with gridiron seems to the thousands of small head knocks players receive rather than infrequent heavy concussions (though of course they are still problematical).

Whilst a footy player will never get thousands of hits to the head, is there a risk of hundreds of small hits to the head over a career if the instinct is to lead with the head rather than the body?

Edited August 16, 20178 yr by binman

36 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

I had forgotten just how good this kid is...sensational comeback. Let's hope he continues to prosper and becomes the absolute star his talent suggest he could be. 

As for the question can exercises strengthen the neck, take a look at the NRL folks!

 

But they don't have necks

19 hours ago, JTR said:

Interesting.

How does one strengthen neck muscles exactly?  

Formula 1 drivers have been doing neck exercises for decades. Fighter pilots also

An example.

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/formula-one-driver-workout-2014-7?r=US&IR=T

The Neck

Without a doubt, the most important body part a Formula One driver must train is the neck. According to BBC Sport,”McLaren drivers can train using a helmet attached to pulleys which pull the neck from different angles” and Renault drivers “use manual resistance techniques specifically designed for each circuit”.

 

On 14/08/2017 at 3:25 PM, jnrmac said:

I don't think so - didn't Dunstall wear one in 1990 when Spaldings knee dented Dunstall's head?

Yes

22 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

@Webber is there any evidence that the brain has less free play up and down inside the skull because it's anchored by the spinal cord, compared with horizontal free play?

I had a bicycle accident where I flew at speed across the bonnet of a right hand turning car car and landed flush on top of my head/helmet on the road.  The helmet was destroyed and I believe it saved my life - otherwise my skull would have been crushed.  While I was pretty dazed until the ambulance came, I didn't have any lasting concussion symptoms.  Lucky no spinal injury too!!!  I'm a big fan of bicycle helmets.

I suffered the exact same accident. Got up and walked off the road then later found out i fractured my kneecap and supposedly broke my femur... Was scary looking at my helmet cracked in 2 and my front wheel which was now underneath the bike seat...

 

Moral of the story: the helmet saved my life and I never ride without one now... although hitting concrete might be a little harder than hitting another player...

Edited August 16, 20178 yr by low flying Robbo

In the clash Gus had on the weekend which left the saints player the worse for wear....did he collected by GUs's headguard? Is that why the other guy was concussed?

3 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

In the clash Gus had on the weekend which left the saints player the worse for wear....did he collected by GUs's headguard? Is that why the other guy was concussed?

doubt it. headgear was soft and afl approved. hard type headgear is not allowed

if anything the aints player was better off being hit by a soft helmet

1 hour ago, low flying Robbo said:

I suffered the exact same accident. Got up and walked off the road then later found out i fractured my kneecap and supposedly broke my femur... Was scary looking at my helmet cracked in 2 and my front wheel which was now underneath the bike seat...

 

Moral of the story: the helmet saved my life and I never ride without one now... although hitting concrete might be a little harder than hitting another player...

I somersaulted off my head and landed in the opposite gutter - it was some sort of miracle that I didn't fracture anything.  I was also very  lucky on the timing too - a millisecond earlier and the car would have T-boned me, a millisecond later and I wouldn't have flown over the bonnet, I would have hit the passenger window at full force.

I was recently in the US and saw most cyclists riding without helmets and many "easy-riders" on motorbikes without helmets - incredible!  I also see many people riding here with their helmet unbuckled!

Not football stuff I know - but there's some intermittent push for helmets to be optional here - hopefully our experiences convince people that not wearing one is a stupid idea.

Edited August 16, 20178 yr by Fifty-5

6 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

I was recently in the US and saw most cyclists riding without helmets and many "easy-riders" on motorbikes without helmets - incredible!  I also see many people riding here with their helmet unbuckled!

Yep thats the USA for you. Dont make me wear seatbelts either. Done step on our freedom. Ha.

27 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Yep thats the USA for you. Dont make me wear seatbelts either. Done step on our freedom. Ha.

NSW used to allow motorcycle riders to ride without a helmet if you had a medical certificate that presumably said it gave you headaches, blurred vision etc.

Not sure if still the case. Any NSW people here caere to answer? 

Just now, jnrmac said:

NSW used to allow motorcycle riders to ride without a helmet if you had a medical certificate that presumably said it gave you headaches, blurred vision etc.

Not sure if still the case. Any NSW people here caere to answer? 

Me and I have an Enfield 500 but I never knew that. Still it would be suicide to do it.

12 hours ago, binman said:

Agree with most of this. Many young players coming into the afl these days seem to lead with their head, rather than instinctively turning at the point of impact and hitting with the shoulder - as i was taught as a kid (and as gus seemingly is being taught now).

I'm not sure however it is as a result of helmets. They might be a factor but i wonder if it is more to do with the emphasis on players 'putting their head over the ball' and the praise these 'brave' acts get.

 

The crack-down on the shirt-front?

27 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

NSW used to allow motorcycle riders to ride without a helmet if you had a medical certificate that presumably said it gave you headaches, blurred vision etc.

Not sure if still the case. Any NSW people here caere to answer? 

It's still the case in WA. 

On 16/08/2017 at 0:01 PM, Fifty-5 said:

I somersaulted off my head and landed in the opposite gutter - it was some sort of miracle that I didn't fracture anything.  I was also very  lucky on the timing too - a millisecond earlier and the car would have T-boned me, a millisecond later and I wouldn't have flown over the bonnet, I would have hit the passenger window at full force.

I was recently in the US and saw most cyclists riding without helmets and many "easy-riders" on motorbikes without helmets - incredible!  I also see many people riding here with their helmet unbuckled!

Not football stuff I know - but there's some intermittent push for helmets to be optional here - hopefully our experiences convince people that not wearing one is a stupid idea.

Similarly in Europe, NB Spain and Italy......where incidentally they have no shortage of organ donors as we do have here.   Expert opinion is that a low incidence of helmet wearing is a large part of the reason for this.  

Andrew Brayshaw dominating in under 18s. All class and toughness like Gus.

He will be available at pick 12-14 when the Dees turn up.  Hope he gets our call up. 

22 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Andrew Brayshaw dominating in under 18s. All class and toughness like Gus.

He will be available at pick 12-14 when the Dees turn up.  Hope he gets our call up. 

Is he similar size Norm? Inside or outside?

he's gone from being ranked 25-40 odd to being inside top 15

interesting times ahead