Mouthpieces tell researchers about force and direction of football head impacts

Stanford researchers recently outfitted about two dozen university football players with high-tech mouthpieces to measure the number, force and direction of head impacts during games and practices. In this Nightly News segment, Dan Garza, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, discusses how researchers are using data from the mouthpieces, which are equipped with tiny sensors, to advance the medical understanding of concussions in football.

In a separate web-only feature, which begins a few seconds after the main segment concludes, Garza and Scott Anderson, head athletic trainer, discuss how the technology allows them to take a more conservative approach towards treating and preventing the risk of serious injuries.

Previously: Using high-tech devices to study football and concussions, High-tech mouthpieces used to advance medical understanding of concussions in football, Researchers develop new test for diagnosing concussions on the sidelines, Deceased athletes’ brains reveal the effects of head injuries, When can athletes return to play? Stanford researchers provide guidance and New concussion guidelines for NFL players
Featured entries photo by Daniel Hartwig