- guardian.co.uk, Sunday February 3 2008 10.06 GMT
- The Observer, Sunday February 3 2008
Q: What is the science behind Petr Cech's scrum cap? Considering that he suffered a skull fracture, would it be cynical to think of a small piece of padded material as just another sponsorship opportunity?
A: My eldest son has just started contact training in rugby and I have joined the well trodden parental trek to the club shop for headgear, body armour and gumshields, which are considered cool and de rigueur.
How the cultural map is changing. The attitudes of Aussie rules footballers to wearing scrumcaps tends to be that, although it is probably a good idea, you are a big girl's blouse if you consider it. Even now, opinion among rugby players and coaches remains divided.
The risk of concussion, the most common form of traumatic brain injury, is certainly high in sports such as rugby and some sports make helmets compulsory. But there is little evidence that headgear reduces the incidence of concussion and there is even debate as to whether it might increase it. Yes, it safeguards against cuts, but, with what amounts to no more than 1cm of padding, it could, it is argued, create an inappropriate feeling of invulnerability.
There may be positive psychological benefits important to those more hesitant to undertake contact sport, those recovering from a significant head injury or, even more rarely, neurosurgery, as in Cech's case. I for one will not be stopping my son wearing his new 'gear' this week, provided I can still afford it.
· Dr Nicholas Peirce is the ECB's chief medical officer and a lead physician for the English Institute of Sport. To ask a question, email osm@observer.co.uk
