Chitika

Monday, December 31, 2012

The Head And Neck Restraint Or HANS Device

By Doris Madden


Also commonly known as the HANS device, this is a protective skull and vertebrae device compulsory in many motor racing sports. They are made from carbon fiber and price wise, can be found to purchase when searching on eBay. The head and neck restraint sole purpose is to prevent injury in the event of a collision where the head is whipped forward causing multiple injuries to the upper extremities and vertebrae of the spinal column.

As one car collides with another, with the occupant strapped in with a safety harness, the body is flung forward whilst the movement forward is transferred to the safety harness. The belt absorbs this force. However the upper body and skull is flung forward as there is nothing to absorb this forward momentum.

The HANS device absorbs this forward momentum and transfers it back to the chest and safety harness. The spinal column is kept relatively in position. This reduces the amount force it has to absorb and keeps the spinal column more or less in line with the rest of the body.

Injuries sustained to the upper body can take months if not years to heal. The device was constructed to decrease the amount of force placed on the head during an event as well as in the case of accidents occurring. Severe whiplash is avoided which can result in headaches and worse cases migraines and blacking out during a race. A racing car is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and it is for this very reason that scientists work out ways in which to minimize casualty to both driver and vehicle.

Correcting a misalignment of posture can take months to heal. High speed motor racing is dangerous at the best of times so every precaution is taken to lessen injuries should an accident occur. This device not only physically protects the driver but also gives them peace of mind to perform at their best knowing full well that should they be involved in an accident, that at the very least they have up to date equipment as a form of protection.

In order to maintain a peak level of fitness, drivers undergo rigorous amounts of massage and chiropractic treatments as well as medical checkups to avoid any kind of mishap whilst driving at high speeds. The body undergoes a tremendous amount of forces acting upon it whilst driving so blacking out is a possibility during performances. Having regular checkups to check whether there are abnormalities with the nervous system of a driver is common practice.

Neck injuries sustained during driving even when accidents do not occur are high. These injuries are common as the head is bounced around and forces are placed on it whilst on the racing track. Because the speeds are very high turning a corner at high velocities whilst perhaps driving over a small piece of debris on the track, triggers forces that the upper body is not accustomed to.

This head and neck restraint was rolled out onto the market and became purchasable in 2003. In essence it is a preventative device which has proven its worth on the racetrack. Statistics have shown that with its advent on the circuit, injuries have subsided and it has proved its worth in accident situations.




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