The science behind head injuries in football

FOR SCALE A slap on the helmet by a teammate's hand measures approximately 10GS (ten times the force of gravity) THE HELMET D Sensors in the helmet record an impact, then transmit information about the speed, location and duration of the hit to a laptop, where it is stored for later analysis. THE HITS Each player experienced about 580-600 hits per season, except for linemen and linebackers, who saw more than 1,000. SENSORS The helmet has six accelerometers* in its liner Electromechanical devices that measure acceleration forces. These forces may be static, like the constant force of gravity, or they could be dynamic. THE ANALYSIS The players in the study with the most impaired visual memory were not those with concussions. Rather they were the players who had taken a lot of middling hits. NUMBER OF SMALLER HITS 180 COLLISIONS BETWEEN 20-80GS 180 BIG HITS (>80GS) 6. (> 20GS 90 90 3. в A BC D E в с Concussion and impairment No concussion, but impaired visual memory O No concussion, no impairment **Gs= gravitational forces KEY: 00