Have neck braces reduced spinal injuries?

redrider104
Edited Date/Time 9/4/2012 8:03pm
It has been a while now since neck braces have been available. I realize this is a touchy subject but my question is, have any riders wearing a neck brace experienced a spinal injury? I don't want to get into the debate on whether neck braces are effective or not, but rather if any rider has been paralyzed while wearing a neck brace?
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RandyS
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RandyS 4/11/2010 12:19pm
4/11/2010 12:19pm
Didn't you see the study released by Leatt last week? Oh that's right, there wasn't one. Great product for the graphic companies to sell stickers for. At least once a week someone comes on here and proclaims that their brace kept them from a serious spinal injury, did someone here have a serious spinal injury every week prior to the Leatt Brace?

If it makes people feel safer great, if it makes people feel invencible, not great.

Has broken lots of collarbones though.

Mark me down in the not convinced column.
burnside
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burnside 4/11/2010 12:56pm
4/11/2010 12:56pm
What testing has been done? I mean, what has been published?

I often wonder if they have caused any throat injuries too?
motomike894
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motomike894 4/11/2010 1:00pm
4/11/2010 1:00pm
I dont wear one, and probably never will, I have dislocated both shoulders, had surgery on my collarbone twice, and never once even came close to anything that would have broke neck, or back, and I have wrecked really bad, and I dont want to risk having a crash that would not have hurt my neck but because I was wearing the brace it broke my collarbone again or something like that.

I am not convinced at all, if it makes you fell better then wear one, but I am pretty sure if you wreck with one you can and will still break your neck with the right impact.

CamP
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CamP 4/11/2010 1:51pm
4/11/2010 1:51pm
The Leatt works as advertised. If you break your collarbone wearing one, you were either wearing the brace too loosely or going to break it in the fall anyway.

The Shop

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KevinM352
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KevinM352 4/11/2010 2:05pm
4/11/2010 2:05pm
I think it is a great idea for neck protection, that being said, I have been hearing a lot about spinal injuries where the brace ends on the back. In my opinion it just transfers the energy to your back.
Highsider
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Highsider 4/11/2010 2:07pm
4/11/2010 2:07pm Edited Date/Time 4/12/2010 10:33am
Has anybody died while wearing a seat belt?
I wear one of those.
CamP
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CamP 4/11/2010 2:14pm
4/11/2010 2:14pm
KevinM352 wrote:
I think it is a great idea for neck protection, that being said, I have been hearing a lot about spinal injuries where the brace ends...
I think it is a great idea for neck protection, that being said, I have been hearing a lot about spinal injuries where the brace ends on the back. In my opinion it just transfers the energy to your back.
The rear stabilizer is just there to keep the brace from spinning around your neck. It's weak enough to break off with your bare hands. The mid back thoracic area of the spine is the strongest vertebrae of the back. That wimpy stabilzer won't break anything.
quadzrulebro 4/11/2010 2:16pm
4/11/2010 2:16pm
KevinM352 wrote:
I think it is a great idea for neck protection, that being said, I have been hearing a lot about spinal injuries where the brace ends...
I think it is a great idea for neck protection, that being said, I have been hearing a lot about spinal injuries where the brace ends on the back. In my opinion it just transfers the energy to your back.
Go ask anyone who's broken their neck and been paralyzed what they'd give to transfer their injury down by a few vertebra.
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 6:54pm
9/3/2012 6:54pm
i have a best friend who broke his back...wearing a leatt....had several doctors at the hospital look the brace over and at least 3 different doctors at two different hospitals would suggest he would be still walking today had he NOT had the brace on....the back of his didn't break off as it was supposed to...

he's in a wheelchair now paralized from the waist down...i'm sure he would have given anything to know then what he knows now...
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 6:59pm
9/3/2012 6:59pm
as an added fact...

i raced 22 yrs and broke 3 bones...right collarbone twice and left collarbone once....i NEVER had a neckbrace.

i think the companies prey on your feeling of safety...they make you feel as though you need it.

i would like to see the ratio of spinal injuries prior to the neck brace compared to after it was marketed for sale.

seems like i can remember the 80's and 90's pretty well...and with the exception of a few stars...there weren't too many spinal injuries

one can argue that the bikes today are faster...but i seem to recall CR 500's back then...and i'm not convinced that a 450 would surpass a 500.

btw....mark me down as not convinced
mx317
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mx317 9/3/2012 7:10pm
9/3/2012 7:10pm
That's what I didn't like about my Leatt. The back plate was angled to where the bottom of it dug into my back and it seemed like it would spear into into my spine with an impact. My Alpinestar lies flat against my back and is more comfortable. The Atlas may be the best design of all though.
mx317
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mx317 9/3/2012 7:11pm
9/3/2012 7:11pm
husky24tn wrote:
i have a best friend who broke his back...wearing a leatt....had several doctors at the hospital look the brace over and at least 3 different doctors...
i have a best friend who broke his back...wearing a leatt....had several doctors at the hospital look the brace over and at least 3 different doctors at two different hospitals would suggest he would be still walking today had he NOT had the brace on....the back of his didn't break off as it was supposed to...

he's in a wheelchair now paralized from the waist down...i'm sure he would have given anything to know then what he knows now...
Keith G?
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 7:16pm
9/3/2012 7:16pm
yep
machine
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machine 9/3/2012 7:25pm
9/3/2012 7:25pm
Early this year I came within a few degrees of forward neck roll from being in a wheel chair. I wear one now and it gives me a sense of being protected, similar to wearing a seat belt.I feel naked without it now.
GuyB
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GuyB 9/3/2012 7:33pm
9/3/2012 7:33pm
RandyS wrote:
Didn't you see the study released by Leatt last week? Oh that's right, there wasn't one. Great product for the graphic companies to sell stickers for...
Didn't you see the study released by Leatt last week? Oh that's right, there wasn't one. Great product for the graphic companies to sell stickers for. At least once a week someone comes on here and proclaims that their brace kept them from a serious spinal injury, did someone here have a serious spinal injury every week prior to the Leatt Brace?

If it makes people feel safer great, if it makes people feel invencible, not great.

Has broken lots of collarbones though.

Mark me down in the not convinced column.
I don't get the argument about feeling invincible. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who gets on a motorcycle and thinks any piece of protective gear would make them injury-proof, from boots to helmet to neck brace.

I think that there are fewer riders wearing them now.

I also think that it's been a while since the last major injury at the pro level...and that people have short memories.
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 7:38pm
9/3/2012 7:38pm
machine wrote:
Early this year I came within a few degrees of forward neck roll from being in a wheel chair. I wear one now and it gives...
Early this year I came within a few degrees of forward neck roll from being in a wheel chair. I wear one now and it gives me a sense of being protected, similar to wearing a seat belt.I feel naked without it now.
i believe...and its just MY opinion....that you may have been worse off if you had one on..

kind of like a fulcrum...if you make the neck immobile or stop the force...that force has to go somewhere....and usually break something else

same issue as the knee braces causing the femur to snap...
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 7:40pm
9/3/2012 7:40pm
GuyB wrote:
I don't get the argument about feeling invincible. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who gets on a motorcycle and thinks any piece of...
I don't get the argument about feeling invincible. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who gets on a motorcycle and thinks any piece of protective gear would make them injury-proof, from boots to helmet to neck brace.

I think that there are fewer riders wearing them now.

I also think that it's been a while since the last major injury at the pro level...and that people have short memories.
i agree guyB

no one on a mx bike should ever feel invincible...i don't care how much gear you wear

but we as extreme sports athletes all know the risk we take....

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MX45
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MX45 9/3/2012 7:47pm
9/3/2012 7:47pm Edited Date/Time 9/3/2012 7:49pm
First I want to acknowledge this is a 2 1/2 year old thread.......

Now, about the whole "the Leatte's back plate broke my back"......No, it did not. Not directly anyway.
(Let's differentiate a "broken back" from SCI - I'm talking about SCI)

Your spinal cord is very well protected from the back side. If the Leatte was to put enough pressure to cause any injury, it would be to the spinous process which is the bony ridge on the backside of your spine. This will not cause SCI.

T-level Spinal Cord Injuries happen usually due to compression; crushing the vertebrae vertically. Not hyper-flexion or hyper-extension.

C-level SCI usually happens from hyper-extension and/or compression, which is what the brace is intended to limit with the back plate, rear wing, and collar area.

I have my opinion on neckbraces. Not so much the intention, but more on the design and execution of some models.
But I do have faith that there are zero cases where a neck brace is directly responsible for an SCI when the rider would have otherwise been fine had they not been wearing a brace.
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 8:12pm
9/3/2012 8:12pm
tommycroftsbarber wrote:
Reed doesn't wear one after seeing Sharky's autopsy. From what I hear you lose your ability to duck and roll. I think it is a personal...
Reed doesn't wear one after seeing Sharky's autopsy. From what I hear you lose your ability to duck and roll. I think it is a personal choice.

http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Reed-and-no-neck-brace,11…
i noticed Dungey isn't wearing his Leatt anymore either

everyone is entitled to thier opinion MX45

you have your faith in whatever you wish...and i will have faith in my beliefs as well

didn't post here to start a fight...just posting MY opinion

or as they say....just my 2 cents worth
DPR250R
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DPR250R 9/3/2012 8:17pm
9/3/2012 8:17pm
Call me crazy but my biggest fear is being choked by mine.

Sometimes it feels tight around my neck. Maybe i just need to check the size again.
MX45
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MX45 9/3/2012 8:32pm
9/3/2012 8:32pm
Same here, Husky24tn. No fighting, just posting my opinion based on anatomy and knowledge of SCI.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. No matter the circumstances, SCI is a serious penalty to pay for enjoying the sport we love.
I'm a paraplegic myself, so if I can help your friend in anyway feel free to send me a message.
husky24tn
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husky24tn 9/3/2012 8:40pm
9/3/2012 8:40pm
thank you....

and i agree...being parylized is way to large of a penalty

i'm currently looking for information because my 10yr old son races....he has been wearing a leatt since day 1.

i want him to be as safe as possible....and when your best friend( sitting in his wheel chair) looks you straight in the eye and asks you to take off the brace...well...to be honest....i feel like i'm making the wrong decisions for my son.

The look in my friends eyes made me realize that he knew more than he was letting on...he had to know or feel the impact of wearing one...and i would never be able to live with myself if i got my son hurt because i believed in something that ended up hurting him severly.
MX45
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MX45 9/3/2012 8:50pm
9/3/2012 8:50pm
Maybe you would feel better looking into other options. There's a growing number available neckbraces from other manufactures, many of them offer different features or a different way of distributing the weight and impact load.

Here is a recent neck brace "shootout" to help you compare basic features and cost among many popular models.
http://www.ppsmoto.com/tests/motocross-gear-tests/neck-brace-shootout-r…
chrisbuehler
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chrisbuehler 9/3/2012 9:03pm
9/3/2012 9:03pm
machine wrote:
Early this year I came within a few degrees of forward neck roll from being in a wheel chair. I wear one now and it gives...
Early this year I came within a few degrees of forward neck roll from being in a wheel chair. I wear one now and it gives me a sense of being protected, similar to wearing a seat belt.I feel naked without it now.
I know the feeling. I was instantly comfortable with the Leatt on and it makes me feel safer. It's a dangerous sport we love and no piece of safety equipment is perfect. What brand you wearing Machine?
MDMCG
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MDMCG 9/3/2012 9:50pm
9/3/2012 9:50pm
What's interesting is the sudden rise of thoracic level fractures in riders that are wearing these braces. There's very little evidence to support these braces and there's even less true medical evidence to support their use. Lab and engineering tests are completely different than what happens in the real world with real victims.
RandyS
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RandyS 9/3/2012 10:23pm
9/3/2012 10:23pm Edited Date/Time 9/3/2012 10:25pm
RandyS wrote:
Didn't you see the study released by Leatt last week? Oh that's right, there wasn't one. Great product for the graphic companies to sell stickers for...
Didn't you see the study released by Leatt last week? Oh that's right, there wasn't one. Great product for the graphic companies to sell stickers for. At least once a week someone comes on here and proclaims that their brace kept them from a serious spinal injury, did someone here have a serious spinal injury every week prior to the Leatt Brace?

If it makes people feel safer great, if it makes people feel invencible, not great.

Has broken lots of collarbones though.

Mark me down in the not convinced column.
GuyB wrote:
I don't get the argument about feeling invincible. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who gets on a motorcycle and thinks any piece of...
I don't get the argument about feeling invincible. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who gets on a motorcycle and thinks any piece of protective gear would make them injury-proof, from boots to helmet to neck brace.

I think that there are fewer riders wearing them now.

I also think that it's been a while since the last major injury at the pro level...and that people have short memories.
One of the few times I see a post I made years ago that I agree 100% with. The invincible statement was based on things I've heard people say. Invincible may have been a little too strong a word, but certainly there are people have less fear of injury because they wear one.
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MBR 9/3/2012 11:39pm
9/3/2012 11:39pm Edited Date/Time 9/4/2012 9:25am
MDMCG wrote:
What's interesting is the sudden rise of thoracic level fractures in riders that are wearing these braces. There's very little evidence to support these braces and...
What's interesting is the sudden rise of thoracic level fractures in riders that are wearing these braces. There's very little evidence to support these braces and there's even less true medical evidence to support their use. Lab and engineering tests are completely different than what happens in the real world with real victims.
I have to disagree. Thoracic level fractures are any ways the most common spinal injuries in motorcycling since there is biggest curve on spine around T7. However in the US top pros that have lately had spine injuries most of them haven't used neck brace (although there are both C & T injuries and neck brace is designed only to protect from C injuries) .

No neck brace:
- Reed
- Zach Bell
- Rattray
- Morais
- Hahn

Neck brace:
- Canard (but getting landed by YZF450 and broke only T10&T11 from lower back, I don't think you can blame the neck brace?)

Please add or correct if something is wrong or missing?

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