Thank you so much, unfortunately could not find your full name on this platform to get to your Insta feed. Could you please let me know 
Thank you so much !
@the.progression.project is my handle on IG. You could also find it from @foundationtraining
Iāve not had this issue; perhaps from longer hair. Otherwise, the helmet does everything else people have mentioned. Once it took a direct hit from a sharp metal garage door track in an airbnb, and no doubt saved me from stitches.
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Update from my initial question.
Thank you @Erik and others.
No further concussion with building neck muscles but especially with really tightening the neck muscles as Iām thrown around and head hitting the water.
The analogy: imagine Mike Tyson, heās all neck.
You can punch his head, but that head (the the brain inside) is not moving because itās one solid piece with the upper body. Heās not getting concussed.
Gamebreaker Pro. Itās cheap and the best. I use it
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Iāve been using the Olaian for a while now https://projectsurfhelmet.com/reviews/olaian-surf-helmet/ and I like it, comfortable and feels like decent protection - pretty much feels like wearing a squid lid so it might be hot if you are in a warm climate. Iāve never gotten along with hard shell helmets
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Got the Simba after two years with the Gath RV. The Gath is relatively quiet. RV model has a retractable full face visor, good in tricky situations like a shore break. But when the visor is wet, visibility was not good enough for me to use during normal riding. The Simba is light and has great coverage. My only complaint was noise but this was resolved by covering the vent holes with tape. Both are great helmets and most importantly their ultra low profile designs imo mitigate the deceleration issues normal volume helmets have during impact.
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The Manera sfoam one is really comfortable, thatās the one in using now.
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That is the one fall you need to be careful of. Iāve had one coming off of a backside air attempt prone foiling.
If you can turn your head to the side, it obviously makes much less of a bucket effect.
Iāve been learning prone foiling since early December of last year, and am using the Oakley helmet that came out not too long ago every session. Iām somewhat conflictedā¦Iāve definitely had moments where the wing has tapped my helmet that made me go ādefinitely worth it,ā and Iāve also had moments where I get the mini headache post fall that definitely feels like a small concussion.
This almost always happens either when Iām trying to take off on a long-period wave (something 14-15s+) and I get hung up in the lip on my 4ā2" board, or I breach while surfing high in the face and smack my head in the flats. Not sure if the helmet has influenced or worsened these falls, but I have been trying to figure out how to mitigate the concussionsā¦I hate the downtime during recovery.
Maybe have to try those exercises Erik suggested.
Pain and spine MD here. The exercises recommended by Erik are solid advice and definitely the best base to avoid long term injury and improve recovery. As for helmets itās certainly a personal choice but the calculus is pretty simple, protecting your head is always better than not. I use a Sweet Protection Wanderer II. Great coverage, no brim to cause whiplash, and I think they look pretty great too.
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Anyone have a link to the exercises Erik recommended? Instagram isnāt exactly the best platform for retaining knowledge if scroll back a few years is the recommended way to find something.
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As a non-Instagram user, I would love to see a reference somewhere, even if not Erikās original.
Yes, neck strengthening can decrease the risk of concussion. Several studies have demonstrated that increased neck strength is associated with a reduced risk of sport-related concussion (SRC). For instance, a systematic review by Elliott et al. found that higher neck strength is associated with a lower risk of sustaining a SRC. Similarly, Silverman et al. concluded that isometric neck strength is a predictor for sport-related concussion prevention.[1-2]
The American Association of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness also supports the inclusion of neck strengthening exercises in injury prevention programs, noting that improved neck strength can mitigate the kinematic forces from head impact.[3]
The best neck strengthening exercises include both isometric and dynamic exercises targeting various planes of neck motion. Effective exercises include:
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Isometric Neck Exercises: These involve resisting against a stationary object or manual resistance in different directions (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation).
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Dynamic Neck Exercises: These include movements against resistance, such as using resistance bands or specialized neck strengthening devices to perform flexion, extension, and rotational movements.
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Neuromuscular Training: Incorporating exercises that improve anticipatory cervical muscle activation, such as bracing for impact, can also be beneficial.[4]
A study by Schroeder et al. compared traditional and nontraditional neck-strengthening techniques and found that dynamic neck strengthening using a novel device resulted in significant strength gains.[5] Additionally, Versteegh et al. demonstrated that a neuromuscular neck training device improved both static and dynamic neck strength.[6]
In summary, incorporating a combination of isometric, dynamic, and neuromuscular exercises into an athleteās training regimen can effectively enhance neck strength and potentially reduce the risk of concussion.
Anecdotal: I found neuromuscular training such as sport requiring frequent falls really help (in my case Jiu Jitsu and snowboarding)
Neuromuscular Training: Incorporating exercises that improve anticipatory cervical muscle activation, such as bracing for impact, can also be beneficial.[4]