Protecting Your Neck While Riding

A matching surge of media attention along with a rash of articles has been given to neck safety due to debilitating neck injuries being suffered by professional MX racers. And most unfortunate, the unprofessional youth who perhaps is just riding for fun or a training hopeful. Both on and off road racers know that crashes may be inevitable and therefore take all precautions necessary to minimize injuries just incase an accident does happen. Motocross and motor cycle riders well cover themselves when it comes to their head, body, feet and hands, and recently they are bracing their necks.

Neck protective gear started with motocross racers wearing foam collars that were attached to the bottom of their helmets and to the top of their chest protective gear. Purpose being to prevent the neck from being rotated in ways and manners that could cause serious damage to the neck, spine, and brain base. This was a good start and did offer a certain amount of protection. But in a crash that would cause a racer to sustain a large amount of force to the helmet, foam at one point would end up merely just bending with the neck instead of having the power to prevent the neck from bending or breaking. Again, the foam collar was a good start. A little protection and best of all, a lot of attention that a serious design was needed for a combined energy-absorbing foam with an inflexible backstop material.

In the auto racing world, one piece of safety equipment called the HANS device has quickly gained popularity in recent years. In addition, the FIA (the world's largest automobile racing sanctioning body) announced that HANS devices are mandatory for drivers and co-drivers in all FIA-sanctioned series and races beginning on January 1, 2008.

Now there is an option for motocross racers and motor cyclists, pro or recreational. A company called Leatt Brace has released a neck bracing system, also named Leatt Brace (easy for us to remember!).

Designed by Dr. Chris Leatt, a South African neurologist who races at both on- and off-road motorcycle events, the Leatt Brace was designed after extensive research into the types of neck injuries commonly received by motorcyclists involved in accidents. Dr. Leatt set out to design a product that would provide protection necessary to prevent dangerous or terminal damage to the neck, while offering a comfortable piece that would be easy to put on and would not impede riders movements while riding or racing.

The resulting product, the Leatt Brace, offers just what Dr. Leatt had wanted. The Leatt Brace is already gaining popularity with European racers like Dakar rally rider Cyril Despres and English MX champ Paul Cooper. Professional racers aren't the only ones vulnerable to serious neck injuries, remember, these injuries can occur just as easily in everyday street or off-road riding, or in any form of amateur motorcycle competition. While it has not been ruled an absolute necessary in motocross or motor cycle riding, no rider should go without a brace. It’s available to you, take it and be safe.

We're excited that Dr. Leatt has taken his time to address an underserved section of the protective gear market by applying his medical know-how and research skills to design what looks to be a truly effective neck brace device.

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SuperSportsRacing.com is a great location to buy the Leatt Brace Kelly Renaul is an avid writer and you can find more writings at SEOhaus for San Diego SEO