The role of head restraints
Although, initially, head restraints were designed to ensure the comfort of passengers, their main role became the protection in case of impact. Positioning of head restraints is essential in avoiding cervical accidents.
Head restraints are not just passive elements to ensure the comfort of occupants, but they aim to retain the head in a collision from the rear. The first brand who placed the head restraints was Daimler Chrysler, after a series of tests which explained how often cervical injury happens.
When a impact from the back happens, the seat push the body before, while the neck remains in the "start" position, which can cause serious diseases of the cervical vertebrae. Adjusting head restraints requires an attention and is done very carefully.
How to adjust head restraints
According to the standards, the height of head restraints are between 75-80 cm, from the point of reference of the seat. In these conditions, each holder should position head restraint according to the size of the body. Specialists recommend that head restraint to be situated just slightly above the ears and head to be more close to it.
The risk of cervical disease after a collision is higher if the passagers are high, which can not be effectively protected by head restraints, at the other extreme, for short occupants, the degree of risk reduces.
Another important aspect is the passenger genre. Women are more susceptible to neck injuries than men, because their muscles are weaker in the neck area. Thus, large head restraints can obstruct visibility during the maneuvers to went back, while the head restraints too low offers a poor area of contact making disappear "the effect of relaxation".
Active head restraints
The new items in the range of protection are active head restraints. In the event of a rear collision, active head restraints move in front to alleviate the shock, but after the impact they return to the initially position, due to a system based on springs. According to statistics, in a car equipped with head restraints assets, the risk of cervical wound with women declines by 55%, while the male percentage is lower, 30%.
Another solution that decreases the risk of injury is to use a travel pillows. Not only will be more protected in the event of a subsequent impact but, also you can relax muscles and neck.
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