Researchers at Virginia Tech have unveiled a new rating system for adult football helmets, designed to reduce the risk of concussions. And for many NFL players, the truth hurts.
A helmet used by nearly 40-percent of NFL football players, Riddell model "VSR-4" received just one star. However, Riddell model, "The Revolution Speed", got a top five-star rating.
Five other helmets, two made by Riddell, two by Schutt and one by Xenith, got a very good four-star rating.
The system is based on eight years of data that simulated 120 impacts on each helmet at four different head locations and at five drop heights. Newer helmet technologies were significantly better at reducing concussions compared to older models.
Researchers hope the system will help consumers make educated decisions when purchasing a helmet.
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