Study: Helmets Don't Hurt Spine

A new study has
debunked the popular myth that motorcycle helmets can actually
cause damage to the spine, with the study authors calling for
lawmakers to reexamine mandatory helmet laws.
It's well proven that helmets prevent brain injuries in crashes,
but a study from more than two decades ago supposedly proved that
headgear actually contributed to spinal injuries. In some cases,
lobbyists have used this study to overturn mandatory helmet laws in
parts of the country.
But the new report, published in the Journal of the American
College of Surgeons, reveals that the data from the previous study
was faulty. Researchers found that riders wearing helmets were
actually 22 percent less likely to suffer cervical spine injuries,
which typically lead to paralysis. The data was compiled using the
National Trauma Databank, examining 40,000 motorcycle crashes from
2002 to 2006.
"Using this new evidence, legislators should revisit the need for
mandatory helmet laws," said the study's lead author, Adil Haider
of Johns Hopkins University. "There is no doubt that helmets save
lives and reduce head injury. And now we know they are also
associated with a decreased risk of cervical spine injury."
In addition to the spinal findings, the study confirmed previous
evidence of helmets' role in the reduction of brain injuries (65
percent less likely) and death (37 percent less likely).