WVXU: Football helmets don't protect back of head as well
UC biomedical engineer studies concussions in football
WVXU highlighted concussion research by the University of Cincinnati that explored how well helmets protect players from hits at different angles.
Eric Nauman, a professor of biomedical engineering in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, put popular football helmets made by leading brands through impact testing and found that no single design demonstrated superior reduction of potential concussion incidence or consistent energy absorption at every part of the helmet.
Concussions from football are a health concern across all age groups from youth sports to professional leagues.
Nauman's study was published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering.
Nauman's tests showed that players are especially vulnerable to potential concussions from hits to the back of their helmets such as when their head hits the ground.
“The classic one is that Tua Tagovailoa, when he's playing the Bills. He fell backwards and hit his head on the ground,” Nauman told WVXU. “He clearly was impaired after that. We think that's largely because that helmet doesn't absorb a lot of the energy when it's a blow to the back of the head.”
Nauman says he doesn't want to prevent anybody from playing football, he just wants to make the game safer for those who do want to play.
Featured image at top: UC biomedical engineering professor Eric Nauman is studying ways to make helmets safer in his lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
UC student Christopher Boles uses a modal hammer to strike a helmet. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
How to keep birds from flying into your windows
July 3, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences professor Ron Canterbury tells the Indianapolis Star that simple steps can prevent birds from strike windows around your home or business. Yahoo! News shares the story.
UC’s microchip training includes innovative VR
July 2, 2024
To build a virtual microchip factory, University of Cincinnati doctoral students turned to the real one where they work. UC launched a new training program for microchip manufacturing in advance of the new fabrication plant Intel Corp. is opening in Ohio.
WalletHub: 5 best chip and pin credit cards
July 1, 2024
University of Cincinnati director discusses 5 best chip and pin credit cards with WalletHub
WVXU: Supreme Court temporarily blocks key air pollution regulations
July 1, 2024
University of Cincinnati law professor spoke with WVXU about recent Supreme Court decision to temporarily block key air pollution regulations.
Put down that beer; it's not a tanning lotion
July 1, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to discuss what's fact and what's myth when it comes to sunscreen use, different kinds of sunscreen and a social media recommendation to use beer on your skin to help get a tan.
UC alum visits campus to teach students about footwear design
June 28, 2024
A 2011 graduate of design, UC alum Charley Hudak has seen his career trajectory go from intern to creative director for Tiger Woods' new athletic footwear brand, Sun Day Red. While he may run with the biggest cat in golf, Hudak doesn't forget his Bearcat roots and comes back each summer to teach youth about footwear design at DAAP Camps.
Slate: How the Supreme Court has shaped the US economy
June 28, 2024
University of Cincinnati law professor, Joseph Tomain, wrote a Slate editorial discussion how the Supreme Court has shaped the US economy.
Cincinnati researchers want to know if MRIs can work better
June 28, 2024
WVXU and the Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted a new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, UC Health GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
UC opens Blood Cancer Healing Center
June 28, 2024
Media outlets including WLWT, Local 12, Spectrum News, the Cincinnati Enquirer and Cleveland.com highlighted the opening of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Blood Cancer Healing Center.
Financial factors to consider when moving
June 27, 2024
Moving can be a stressful and expensive endeavor. When it comes time to move, there are important financial implications to consider, Gary Painter, PhD, the academic director of the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business real estate program and a professor of real estate, told USA Today.