Study Finds Differences in Concussion Risk Between Football Helmets

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, football helmets can be designed to reduce the risk of concussion. The study analyzed six years of head-impact data from eight collegiate football teams between 2005 and 2010. A total of 1,833 players wore two different types of helmets equipped with sensors to measure the biomechanics of over one million head impacts. The sensors in the helmets measured head acceleration for each impact players experienced. According to the lead author of the study, this is the first study to control the number of times players hit their heads when comparing helmet types. The data showed a 54-percent reduction in concussion risk for players in one type of helmet compared to the other, although the authors of the study stress that no helmet will ever be able to eliminate the risk altogether. To read more about the results of this study, click here.