Leatt brace and spinal injuries

RandyS
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RandyS
Edited Date/Time 1/24/2012 2:21pm
There's a thread over on Nor Cal Motocross that brings up something I thought when I first saw the Leatt Brace. The brace transferring the impact to your upper back. I haven't ridden in the last year or so but I'm getting a new bike later this month. I'm starting to think maybe I'm better off staying with the neck roll/chest protector system I've had for the last 10 years. I think EVS and 661 might actually be on to a better system. And if some lawyer(sorry FTE) can prove the Leatt cause an injury watch out.
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zookrider62 4/7/2008 12:30pm
4/7/2008 12:30pm
I understand your worry about transefferring the impact, but why would you settle for just a chest protector and neck roll? The neck rolls are for collarbones mainly, I thought, and chest protectors are merely for roost.
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level 4/7/2008 1:04pm
4/7/2008 1:04pm
What about the PCS collar. That's what I use. Does that help with neck injuries or just collarbones as well? That's what everybody was using before the Leatt came out. I remember landing straight on my noggin and the pcs neck thingy compressed right up against my helmet. I guess it had to absorb some but I had a little concussion from landing straight on the noggin.
CamP
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CamP 4/7/2008 1:39pm
4/7/2008 1:39pm Edited Date/Time 4/7/2008 1:42pm
A Leatt brace doesn't have anything to do with that guy breaking L5 in his lower back. Also, if you land hard enough on your head that you break any vertebrae in the T area of the spine, while wearing a leatt brace, consider yourself lucky that you aren't a quadriplegic or dead. The T area bones are big and strong and it takes a lot of force to break them.
GuyB
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GuyB 4/7/2008 2:50pm
4/7/2008 2:50pm
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the thoracic back piece was designed to break before it would cause enough force to break bone.

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RandyS
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RandyS 4/7/2008 5:15pm
4/7/2008 5:15pm
GuyB wrote:
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the...
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the thoracic back piece was designed to break before it would cause enough force to break bone.
What happens when carbon fiber or fiberglass breaks?
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/7/2008 5:21pm
4/7/2008 5:21pm
A Leatt brace helps from getting hurt it does not stop it completely. Just like you can still blow out a knee with knee braces.
Scotty
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Scotty 4/7/2008 5:23pm
4/7/2008 5:23pm
GuyB wrote:
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the...
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the thoracic back piece was designed to break before it would cause enough force to break bone.
RandyS wrote:
What happens when carbon fiber or fiberglass breaks?
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about it. He had a Leatt brace on, and his back broke right where the back piece stops. Chris is now paralyzed from the chest down. I dont wanna speculate on whether or not the brace helped with the injury or not, but it sure seems like it didnt help much at all. Also, it seems like there are a TON more of collar bone breaks and shoulder problems. IMO
CamP
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CamP 4/7/2008 5:25pm
4/7/2008 5:25pm
JoJmoto wrote:
In therory...
The T-spar support is only 1/8" thick x 1 1/8" wide. The Thoracic spine won't break before the T-spar breaks.
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/7/2008 5:28pm
4/7/2008 5:28pm
GuyB wrote:
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the...
I asked Dr. Leatt about that a year or so ago. I'd have to dig to find the exact wording, but his contention was that the thoracic back piece was designed to break before it would cause enough force to break bone.
RandyS wrote:
What happens when carbon fiber or fiberglass breaks?
Scotty wrote:
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about...
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about it. He had a Leatt brace on, and his back broke right where the back piece stops. Chris is now paralyzed from the chest down. I dont wanna speculate on whether or not the brace helped with the injury or not, but it sure seems like it didnt help much at all. Also, it seems like there are a TON more of collar bone breaks and shoulder problems. IMO
Why do you people think the brace will help every situation? As far as collarbones breaking the force is redirected somewhere that is really the only place but my opinion is if its between a collarbone or a neck ill take the collarbone.

Scotty
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Scotty 4/7/2008 5:37pm
4/7/2008 5:37pm
RandyS wrote:
What happens when carbon fiber or fiberglass breaks?
Scotty wrote:
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about...
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about it. He had a Leatt brace on, and his back broke right where the back piece stops. Chris is now paralyzed from the chest down. I dont wanna speculate on whether or not the brace helped with the injury or not, but it sure seems like it didnt help much at all. Also, it seems like there are a TON more of collar bone breaks and shoulder problems. IMO
Sinbad wrote:
Why do you people think the brace will help every situation? As far as collarbones breaking the force is redirected somewhere that is really the only...
Why do you people think the brace will help every situation? As far as collarbones breaking the force is redirected somewhere that is really the only place but my opinion is if its between a collarbone or a neck ill take the collarbone.

Who said I thought the brace would help every situation? How many times have you gone over the handlebars?? Ive done it quite a few times, and never broken a collarbone(knock on wood) I personally think its flawed design, but what do I know?Dizzy
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/7/2008 5:40pm
4/7/2008 5:40pm
Scotty wrote:
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about...
Randy, your worries are the exact same ones I posted about a few months ago. Actually the Chris Blais crash is what got me thinking about it. He had a Leatt brace on, and his back broke right where the back piece stops. Chris is now paralyzed from the chest down. I dont wanna speculate on whether or not the brace helped with the injury or not, but it sure seems like it didnt help much at all. Also, it seems like there are a TON more of collar bone breaks and shoulder problems. IMO
Sinbad wrote:
Why do you people think the brace will help every situation? As far as collarbones breaking the force is redirected somewhere that is really the only...
Why do you people think the brace will help every situation? As far as collarbones breaking the force is redirected somewhere that is really the only place but my opinion is if its between a collarbone or a neck ill take the collarbone.

Scotty wrote:
Who said I thought the brace would help every situation? How many times have you gone over the handlebars?? Ive done it quite a few times...
Who said I thought the brace would help every situation? How many times have you gone over the handlebars?? Ive done it quite a few times, and never broken a collarbone(knock on wood) I personally think its flawed design, but what do I know?Dizzy
I have gone over many times as well with and without the brace the one time I broke my collarbone I had no neck brace on.

MXATC
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MXATC 4/7/2008 7:19pm
4/7/2008 7:19pm
I think when the new Leatt Brace is out alot of folks will happy with it. The new one should help with the forces around the collarbone area. I know this has been a concern for some people but think about the overall picture here when it comes to protection.
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jmc2 4/7/2008 8:29pm
4/7/2008 8:29pm
CamP wrote:
A Leatt brace doesn't have anything to do with that guy breaking L5 in his lower back. Also, if you land hard enough on your head...
A Leatt brace doesn't have anything to do with that guy breaking L5 in his lower back. Also, if you land hard enough on your head that you break any vertebrae in the T area of the spine, while wearing a leatt brace, consider yourself lucky that you aren't a quadriplegic or dead. The T area bones are big and strong and it takes a lot of force to break them.
Good point...
The mechanics from a force directly on top of the head which is termed axial loading is all too common in contact sports, mainly football. It is hard for a brace to prevent that event from happening, although most braces help in flexion and extension of the C-spine, the future of protection equipment seem to heading in the right direction of prevention...
BobbyM
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BobbyM 4/7/2008 8:32pm
4/7/2008 8:32pm
if neck injuries are a concern you fuckers are in the wrong sport. seriously...
mattmiller884 4/7/2008 8:41pm
4/7/2008 8:41pm
BobbyM wrote:
if neck injuries are a concern you fuckers are in the wrong sport. seriously...
Ya fuckers dont wear a helmet either.
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rallendude 4/8/2008 6:35am
4/8/2008 6:35am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:33pm
THAT right there is what's wrong with this sport. Until people wake up and acknowledge that people are being paralyzed and dieing, nothing will improve. We've heard this so much it makes me sick. "Motocross is dangerous. Don't like it? Take up basket weaving." Well I love MX and can't bring myself to stop. My 8 y/o also loves it. And I don't want to see him in a wheelchair or casket because we didn't do everything we could to make our sport as safe as possible.

For those of you who keep talking a big game about injury prevention and general mx safety. Get off you duffs and do something about it. I've heard of three paralyzing accidents and two deaths in the last three weeks. This is S T U P I D. No, not all accidents can be prevented. But we would all be stupid not to ask the questions "why is this happening?"

As for the Leatt, I'll take my chances on it preventing a C spine injury even if it results in a T spine injury. If you look at the human body from a mechanical point of view, the C spine is the weak link. Where are you going to project that energy. The only place it can go is straight down. Compression fractures of the T 5,6,7 area are the most commonly broken bones in the back. It's because of the way it's all layed out and how the weight of the body is distributed on the spine. Is it contributing to morre broken backs with paralysis? I don't know, they might have happened anyway.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 4/8/2008 6:41am
4/8/2008 6:41am
There's definitely plusses and minuses to wearing the brace, like knee braces. I'm glad to see some of the more emotional and less analytical appeals are less frequent these days. Take a look at the Leatt, look at the new one from EVS, maybe the new one from Alpinestars, and pick one, or none. But think it through, make the best decision you can, and be happy there are options out there that didn't exist 10 years ago.

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rockcrawlerdude 4/8/2008 7:47am
4/8/2008 7:47am
i agree that a neck brace of any kind is the best way to go, i also think that with alot of 1sts (ie Leatt) there are better designs to come ( ie A-stars and EVS , and the other company that coming out soon not saying they are better but who knows). but like was said above make your decision and just go ride...
TerryK
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TerryK 4/8/2008 10:54am
4/8/2008 10:54am
I'd much rather risk a T-spine injury that a C-Spine injury.
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/8/2008 11:11am
4/8/2008 11:11am
Has anyone here seen the video of Magoo talking about safety? Watch that and then tell me you don't feel safer with a neck brace on.

englishman
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englishman 4/8/2008 11:15am
4/8/2008 11:15am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:33pm
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/8/2008 11:21am
4/8/2008 11:21am
englishman wrote:
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs...
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
What is the real answer? If you have the answer don’t say anything because you have the million dollar answer.
englishman
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englishman 4/8/2008 11:29am
4/8/2008 11:29am
englishman wrote:
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs...
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
Sinbad wrote:
What is the real answer? If you have the answer don’t say anything because you have the million dollar answer.
I wish I did , don't we all ?
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/8/2008 11:30am
4/8/2008 11:30am
englishman wrote:
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs...
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
Sinbad wrote:
What is the real answer? If you have the answer don’t say anything because you have the million dollar answer.
englishman wrote:
I wish I did , don't we all ?
Yeah we really all do. People will always fall on their head no matter what we do.
TerryK
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TerryK 4/8/2008 11:31am
4/8/2008 11:31am Edited Date/Time 4/8/2008 11:33am
englishman wrote:
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs...
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
Enresto Fonseca, Doug Henry, Donovan Mitchell, Heinz Kinigadner's brother and son Hannis, Pit Beirer,

Ricky James, Chase Borders the list goes on. I'm guessing that people paralyzed riding and racing worldwide number in the thousands.
rockcrawlerdude 4/8/2008 11:32am
4/8/2008 11:32am Edited Date/Time 4/8/2008 11:32am
for one this is motocross it is a deadly sport but i beleive a combination of safety equipment , track design/safety all have thier importance in REDUCING the possibilities of injury but NOTHING will ever eliminate them ( except maybe NOT to ride and who wants to do that)...
Sinbad
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Sinbad 4/8/2008 11:37am
4/8/2008 11:37am
englishman wrote:
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs...
From a pro standpoint at least from the '70's to the '80's I can only think of a handful of riders who ended up in wheelchairs . Willi Bauer, Magoo , Malherbe & David Bailey stand out.
Yes there are more people participating in the sport now and news can spread much faster because of the 'net so that is one argument as to why it seems more guys are getting these types of injury but apart from looking at neck braces, helmets etc shouldn't we be looking at the whole picture? Track designs , bikes etc ?
Hey , I may sound like an idiot but ,wearing a $500.00 piece of carbon fiber around your neck isn't the real answer.I'm not saying it doesn't help , like a helmet is does but we need to look at more than just safety equipment.
TerryK wrote:
Enresto Fonseca, Doug Henry, Donovan Mitchell, Heinz Kinigadner's brother and son Hannis, Pit Beirer, Ricky James, Chase Borders the list goes on. I'm guessing that people...
Enresto Fonseca, Doug Henry, Donovan Mitchell, Heinz Kinigadner's brother and son Hannis, Pit Beirer,

Ricky James, Chase Borders the list goes on. I'm guessing that people paralyzed riding and racing worldwide number in the thousands.
I'm not sure it's that much of all the websites I read they say, "Approximately 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States." Considering how many people we have that seems a bit low to me though.
Trip
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Trip 4/8/2008 12:09pm
4/8/2008 12:09pm
Sinbad wrote:
Has anyone here seen the video of Magoo talking about safety? Watch that and then tell me you don't feel safer with a neck brace on.
Has anyone here seen the video of Magoo talking about safety? Watch that and then tell me you don't feel safer with a neck brace on.

Thats kinda the problem..You "feel Safer". If you feel safer wearing one you may be more inclined to do things you shoudn't, just cause you feel safer.
If your wearing one because you feel safer and are now attempting thing you shouldn't, well your wearing one for the wrong reason.

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