Bicycle and Motorcycle Helmets

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Medical Author:

Thomas V Robb, DO

Coauthor:

Maurizio A Miglietta, DO

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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• Motorcycles, Bicycles, and Head Injury
• History of Helmets
• Effectiveness of Helmets
• Controversies Regarding Helmet Use
• Helmet Use Among Riders
• Increasing Helmet Use
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editor

The increase in bicycling and motorcycling has focused attention on injuries sustained during these activities. Most of these injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBI), caused by the lack of rider head protection. This exposure of the rider accounts for the particular types of injuries seen during these activities.

• Although the crash scenario often dictates the area of the body injured, fatal crashes are most often a result of traumatic brain injury. Often these are isolated head injuries with no other serious injuries.
• Fatal traumatic brain injury occurs more often in adults than children, although children are more often injured in bicycle crashes. This simply reflects the greater proportion of children using bicycles, as well as the lack of experience of younger riders.
• Many studies have documented the particular risk of brain injury when riding a motorcycle. The increased speed of a motorcycle and use in vehicle traffic adds risk of injury far beyond that of a bicycle.
• Traumatic brain injury certainly can cause death, but it also can cause disabling injuries that are extensive and require costly rehabilitation. For many people, a brain injury triggers a significant change in lifestyle and function. Brain injury can vary from essentially minor disability to prolonged dependence on a ventilator to breathe, and permanent loss of normal function. These serious brain injuries take a tremendous toll on families and others caring for an injured loved one.

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