A famous organization Concussion.org revealed that if a concussion occurs within the skull, a helmet will not be able to prevent the concussion. Because helmets are placed on the head to protect the head from any fractures or injuries not on the brain. It means helmets only operate on the outer part of the head, not in the inner part.

But even though football players always shield their heads with helmets before they play, the reality is: Helmets aren’t designed to protect people against concussion, only skull fracture. I’m a bioengineer, and at my lab at Stanford we’re focused on creating equipment to reduce sports injuries, including traumatic brain injury.