Motocross Neck Braces - any experts?

[JQ]

Slightly odd one, but my 17yr old son has been diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease in his spine which was discovered when he broke his neck earlier this year doing something innocuous. The result is that the Drs have stopped him doing all the things he loves - downhill mountain biking, climbing, skiing and several team sports he plays to quite a high level - loves dangerous things. The line in the sand for him is skiing and he wants to continue despite his condition, whilst giving up everything else. I'm against it, mum is for it, he says it's non negotiable. As such I'll try to do everything to protect him. I've got him a Leatt 4.5 Evo back and chest protector and am considering a neck brace too.

My question is - do they only work with full face helmets? It seems from my basic research that they dissipate impacts from the neck to the shoulders via the chin guard and rear of the helmet, as such if he is to use one will he need to wear a full face? This is his ski helmet:

https://www.bolle.com/gb/snow/ski-helmets/ryft-mip...

He does have several full face helmets already, but clearly he'll look a bit odd to wear one skiing, but if he needs to wear one he'll have to deal with it.. His current helmet for mountain biking :

https://foxracing.co.uk/product/rampage-matte-blac...

Summary - can he use a ski helmet with a neck brace or does he need to use a full face helmet? And if so, is the full face helmet he already have sufficient or should he use a motocross helmet?

Thanks for your help.

[joema]

I don't see how as the intention is for the bottom of the helmet to be prohibited from moving to extremes by the brace.

Maybe reach out to Leatt?

I've seen people in full faces on the slopes. May look weird but is that important?

[Rubin215]

I am sorry to hear about your son, that must have been a dreadful shock for all concerned.

I had to stop playing rugby myself after a neck injury in my mid-30's but at least I had already had my 'glory-days', I can only imagine how frustrated he must be.

Can I suggest though, try asking the same question on a ski forum?

There are some very well-intentioned and well-meaning people on here, but our world of experience is generally motorcycle related; someone in the ski-community is bound to have dealt with this or a similar scenario previously and would be far better placed to advise.

Most sports have their own specialists in kit design and manufacture, whether it is motorcycling, MTB, BMX, skiing or even wheelchair rugby ( ), and there isn't much room for crossover when the risk of a potentially life-changing injury is so high.

Better to ask specialists in the correct field.

[Birky_41]

Yes they work although the negative is broken collar bones with them

[JQ]

Rubin215 said:

I am sorry to hear about your son, that must have been a dreadful shock for all concerned.

I had to stop playing rugby myself after a neck injury in my mid-30's but at least I had already had my 'glory-days', I can only imagine how frustrated he must be.

Can I suggest though, try asking the same question on a ski forum?

There are some very well-intentioned and well-meaning people on here, but our world of experience is generally motorcycle related; someone in the ski-community is bound to have dealt with this or a similar scenario previously and would be far better placed to advise.

Most sports have their own specialists in kit design and manufacture, whether it is motorcycling, MTB, BMX, skiing or even wheelchair rugby ( ), and there isn't much room for crossover when the risk of a potentially life-changing injury is so high.

Better to ask specialists in the correct field.

Unfortunately I have and was referred to motocross suppliers. My experience of buying MTB and BMX armour over the last 15 years has been that it's all just a lightweight version of MX gear. Ski armour is no different and is predominantly D30 soft back protectors (which originated in MX), they don't offer neck protection for skiing, or none that i could find. Unfortunately skiers don't need the level of protection I want for him.

There is as always a downside and it just moves any potential damage away from the protected area to another part of the body, but that's a risk we're prepared to take as his back is the weak point. I'll be honest, I'm hoping he gives up on the idea, but at the moment he's very determined and as he's been in the England Squad for one of his team sports for the last 4 years, he's already given up a fair bit - he was due to get his first cap this year.

I do plan to present what I get for him to his Dr before the trip, so hopefully he'll flag any major issues.

[JQ]

Birky_41 said:

Yes they work although the negative is broken collar bones with them

Cheers, it's a risk he'd be prepared to take unfortunately - he's broken lots of bones over the years MTB'ing. Do you know if a full face is required for it to work?

[JQ]

joema said:

I don't see how as the intention is for the bottom of the helmet to be prohibited from moving to extremes by the brace.

Maybe reach out to Leatt?

I've seen people in full faces on the slopes. May look weird but is that important?

Cheers, I should have thought of this and have now contacted Leatt directly.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

JQ said:

Unfortunately I have and was referred to motocross suppliers. My experience of buying MTB and BMX armour over the last 15 years has been that it's all just a lightweight version of MX gear. Ski armour is no different and is predominantly D30 soft back protectors (which originated in MX), they don't offer neck protection for skiing, or none that i could find. Unfortunately skiers don't need the level of protection I want for him.

There is as always a downside and it just moves any potential damage away from the protected area to another part of the body, but that's a risk we're prepared to take as his back is the weak point. I'll be honest, I'm hoping he gives up on the idea, but at the moment he's very determined and as he's been in the England Squad for one of his team sports for the last 4 years, he's already given up a fair bit - he was due to get his first cap this year.

I do plan to present what I get for him to his Dr before the trip, so hopefully he'll flag any major issues.

Worth a listen. Interview with Dr Chris Leatt on the subject of neck braces. He goes through the science and evidence.

https://pulpmx.com/podcast/guest-chris-leatt/

Can't help re experience as never bothered with a neck brace when mtbing.

[Rubin215]

https://www.kapsultech.com/

https://atlasbrace.com/en-int?srsltid=AfmBOooGG_hD...

Two Canadian companies for you to look at.

[JQ]

Rubin215 said:

https://www.kapsultech.com/

https://atlasbrace.com/en-int?srsltid=AfmBOooGG_hD...

Two Canadian companies for you to look at.

Thank you. The Atlas gear looks quite similar to what Leatt are offering in the UK, but the Kapsul brace looks very interesting and definitely could be an option. I need to do more research.

[JQ]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

Worth a listen. Interview with Dr Chris Leatt on the subject of neck braces. He goes through the science and evidence.

https://pulpmx.com/podcast/guest-chris-leatt/

Can't help re experience as never bothered with a neck brace when mtbing.

Cheers, listening to it now.

[JQ]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

Worth a listen. Interview with Dr Chris Leatt on the subject of neck braces. He goes through the science and evidence.

https://pulpmx.com/podcast/guest-chris-leatt/

Can't help re experience as never bothered with a neck brace when mtbing.

Fantastic, I had no idea where Leatt originated and it's unlikely I'd have ever found that interview on my own, thank you. I'll be looking into his research. Hopefully I'll be able to present the research of Dr Leatt (a neuro-surgeon) to my son's neuro-surgeon to get his view.

In the meantime Leatt have come back to me and confirmed the braces are designed to be used with a full face helmet.

[Birky_41]

JQ said:

Cheers, it's a risk he'd be prepared to take unfortunately - he's broken lots of bones over the years MTB'ing. Do you know if a full face is required for it to work?

No sorry. All my racing experience is with full face Mx lids

My son used a softer sponge version when he was a kid

The real HD high quality ones do very much work at least in the Mx scene but as said their downfall was more easily breaking collar bones

[airsafari87]

No experience with neck braces, but would an airbag jacket / vest do what you need it to do as well?

I know a lot of companies have developed airbag jackets / suits / vests for sports other than motorbikes.

I have an RST airbag suit which uses the In and Motion airbag system and I am sure they also have versions for skiing too?

[JQ]

airsafari87 said:

No experience with neck braces, but would an airbag jacket / vest do what you need it to do as well?

I know a lot of companies have developed airbag jackets / suits / vests for sports other than motorbikes.

I have an RST airbag suit which uses the In and Motion airbag system and I am sure they also have versions for skiing too?

Brilliant suggestion, thank you. A bit of digging and yes In&Motion do make systems for skiers. Looks like Dainese supply one in the UK, but it's restricted to use by World Cup Skiers. I assume it could be due to minimum speeds required for activating the airbag. Anyway I've contacted In&Motion to see if their product can be used by recreational skiers, so fingers crossed.