Billed as “the first and only FDA-cleared product that helps protect the brain from the effects associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts,” the Q-Collar has been launched in the U.S. by a company called Q30 Innovations. The device addresses a primary health concern in contact sports by providing an extra layer of protection for athletes of any contact sport.

The Q-Collar, first commercially launched as a pilot in Canada in 2019, is intended to be worn around the neck with existing protective sports equipment. Designed for athletes aged 13 years and older, it is backed by years of research and FDA clearance, with more than 25 laboratory and clinical studies, on-field testing by more than 1000 athletes and hundreds of thousands of head impacts across sports including football, soccer and hockey.

"Since 2012, we've worked with the leading medical, academic, engineering and design experts to develop a product that will help the next generation of athletes play safer and smarter," says Tom Hoey, co-founder and co-CEO of Q30 Innovations. "Launching the Q-Collar in the U.S. is a major milestone moment for Q30 Innovations and the fight against brain injuries in sports and we're proud to make the Q-Collar available for athletes across North America."

A team of medical experts invented the Q-Collar after identifying the movement of the brain inside the skull, or "slosh," as a key cause of structural changes to the brain. The Q-Collar uses jugular vein compression to slightly increase blood volume in the head, which reduces the movement of the brain that can cause injury. By creating a tighter fit for the brain inside the skull, the Q-Collar is safe and effective at helping to protect athletes' brains from effects associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts.

"Over the past decade, coaches, athletes, parents and decision makers at every level of sport have been forced to reckon with a deeper understanding of the potential for both short- and long-term dangers of head injuries in sports," explains Julian Bailes, M.D., chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University Health System; and Chief Medical Advisor for Q30 Innovations. "With the U.S. launch of the Q-Collar, athletes nationwide finally have access to a novel advancement in head injury protection that will enable them to play the sports they love with a greater degree of safety."

The Q-Collar is recommended for athletes playing contact sports including, but not limited to, football, soccer, lacrosse and hockey. The Q-Collar comes in eight different sizes, correlating to different neck measurements, and is available for purchase for $199 (plus tax). Team discounts are available. For more: www.qcollar.com.