New football helmets excel in concussion tests, though engineering results show the back of the head is still vulnerable

The latest generation of football helmets does a better job of protecting players from impacts that can cause concussions, according to new lab tests conducted at the University of Cincinnati. Despite the improved helmet performance, players are still most susceptible to blows to the back of the head, testing found; and the position-specific helmets underperformed others, researchers noted. The findings are published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments.