An energy absorption device comprising: an external cylinder housing member having a distal end, a proximal end, and an interior wall; a shock tube (110; 510) being rotatably secured within the external cylinder and having: an interior surface; an exterior surface; a group of inline holes along the long axis of the shock tube (110; 510), each hole passing from the interior surface of the shock tube to the exterior surface of the shock tube to allow fluid to pass therethrough; and a tapered patch (520, 525, 535) on the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), the length of the tapered patch (520, 525, 535) along the long axis of the shock tube spans the group of inline holes, the tapered patch starting at the location of the group of inline holes and being of a first depth into the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), and ending at another location around the circumference of the shock tube and being of a second depth into the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), the second depth being less than the first depth, and the depth of the tapered patch tapering from the first depth to the second depth; a piston including a head portion and a rod portion, the head portion being slidably retained within the shock tube (110; 510), and the rod portion extending from the head portion through the proximal end of the external cylinder and configured to be engaged with an external body in motion; an accumulator, contained within the external cylinder, to collect fluid from the interior of the shock tube (110; 510) when the head portion of the piston moves toward the distal end of the external cylinder; and a flow channel formed on the interior wall of the external cylinder, substantially extending along the length of the external cylinder, and in fluid communication with the accumulator, relative rotation between the shock tube (110; 510) and the external cylinder changing which part of the tapered patch (520, 525, 535) interfaces the flow channel to adjustably change the rate of fluid flow out of the shock tube (110; 510), through the group of inline holes, through the tapered patch (520, 525, 535), through the flow channel, and into the accumulator, said rotation changing dampening of the energy absorption device. an external cylinder housing member having a distal end, a proximal end, and an interior wall; a shock tube (110; 510) being rotatably secured within the external cylinder and having: an interior surface; an exterior surface; an interior surface; an exterior surface; a group of inline holes along the long axis of the shock tube (110; 510), each hole passing from the interior surface of the shock tube to the exterior surface of the shock tube to allow fluid to pass therethrough; and a tapered patch (520, 525, 535) on the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), the length of the tapered patch (520, 525, 535) along the long axis of the shock tube spans the group of inline holes, the tapered patch starting at the location of the group of inline holes and being of a first depth into the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), and ending at another location around the circumference of the shock tube and being of a second depth into the exterior surface of the shock tube (110; 510), the second depth being less than the first depth, and the depth of the tapered patch tapering from the first depth to the second depth; a piston including a head portion and a rod portion, the head portion being slidably retained within the shock tube (110; 510), and the rod portion extending from the head portion through the proximal end of the external cylinder and configured to be engaged with an external body in motion; an accumulator, contained within the external cylinder, to collect fluid from the interior of the shock tube (110; 510) when the head portion of the piston moves toward the distal end of the external cylinder; and a flow channel formed on the interior wall of the external cylinder, substantially extending along the length of the external cylinder, and in fluid communication with the accumulator, relative rotation between the shock tube (110; 510) and the external cylinder changing which part of the tapered patch (520, 525, 535) interfaces the flow channel to adjustably change the rate of fluid flow out of the shock tube (110; 510), through the group of inline holes, through the tapered patch (520, 525, 535), through the flow channel, and into the accumulator, said rotation changing dampening of the energy absorption device.