The data showed the average forces of a soccer-ball header were similar to those exerted on the head by punches from amateur boxers, according to Daniel Plant, a researcher in Imperial's department of mechanical engineering, who presented the data Friday at a helmet-safety science conference at the university.
The comparison between the gridiron and a war zone becomes even more similar now, as the NFL is looking into implementing the same helmet sensors the Army uses to gather data on head trauma after impact, according to the Stars and Stripes, an independent news source of the military.
In studies with soccer balls, there was little difference with or without headgear, and in the case of one type of headgear, there was evidence the force on the head was greater when a helmet was worn than when not, according to the data.