As sports like football continue to highlight the dangers of concussions, a new app called FlightPath is being tested to address the critical need for faster and more accurate concussion assessments. Developed by Dr. Adam Cross of OSF HealthCare and Inki Kim from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, FlightPath offers a high-tech solution for evaluating brain function.

Illinois State University senior Cyerra Hibbert, a soccer player with multiple concussions, is among the first athletes to try the app. After her latest concussion, Hibbert tested FlightPath, which collects over one million data points in just two minutes by having users track a hummingbird in 3D space on a screen.

FlightPath is currently being trialed at Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan, and Bradley Universities. Dr. Cross emphasized that the biggest barrier to concussion recovery is delayed diagnosis, which the app aims to address. Although the research team is still collecting data, the app's developers hope it will eventually aid trainers and physicians with both diagnosis and recovery planning.

Though not yet ready for clinical decision-making, FlightPath's early tests suggest it could become a vital tool in concussion management, offering a new way to protect athletes and support their recovery.