“But I heard headgear doesn’t work?”

Why People Think Headgear Doesn’t Work (And Why That’s Changing)

You've probably heard it before: “But headgear doesn’t protect against concussion.” And technically, that’s correct - if we’re talking about the type of headgear that’s actually been studied.

The reality is, most of the headgear examined in published studies wasn’t even built for concussion protection. Think rugby scrum caps: they’re designed to prevent cuts, abrasions, and the dreaded cauliflower ear - not to protect the brain.

In fact, World Rugby regulations require that approved headgear (scrum caps) allow accelerations exceeding 200g in standardized tests. That’s double the 80–100g range many researchers associate with potential concussions (in adults), and far exceeds the 50g that can cause concussion issues in junior athletes. So it’s no surprise those designs didn’t perform well in concussion studies - they weren’t meant to.

What’s more concerning is that these same types of headgear have found their way into other sports under the guise of added “protection.” And although packaging may clarify their intended use, it’s unlikely parents are buying headgear just to prevent cuts and abrasions. They want real brain protection.

Dismissing headgear because of these legacy designs is like complaining your umbrella can’t make coffee. Of course it can’t - it wasn’t designed to. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying to build better tools for the job.

That’s why SWAARM is leading a shift in the narrative. We’re investing in research and development aimed at actually addressing the problem - developing headgear that’s engineered for brain protection. We get all our products independently tested at Virginia Tech’s world-renowned helmet lab. And we’re backing it with evidence, co-funding two PhD projects at Flinders University to generate multiple meaningful scientific papers.

The bottom line? The phrase “headgear doesn’t work” says more about the headgear that’s been studied than the potential that remains. It’s time to start studying equipment that’s actually designed to protect the brain - and that’s exactly what we’re doing.