Q30 Sports Science: Science of Brain Safety (2024)

Help protect against head injury by reducing brain movement.

The Q-Collar is the first and only [tooltip label="FDA-cleared" static="true"]
In February 2021, the FDA authorized (or “cleared”) the Q-Collar as a safe and effective device intended to be worn around the neck of athletes aged 13 years and older during sports activities to aid in the protection of the brain from effects associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts. You can read more about the FDA’s authorization of the Q-Collar. Read more
[/tooltip] solution that helps protect the brain during repetitive head impacts.

Because the brain floats inside the skull, it moves – sometimes with great force – when the head is exposed to an impact. By applying light pressure to the sides of the neck, the Q-Collar increases blood volume in the brain’s venous structures, reducing the harmful internal movement that causes brain injury.

The Q-Collar is a noninvasive solution to brain protection, and there have been no negative effects reported relating to wearing it. It may even help you perform at your optimum.*

How We Did It

The inventors of the Q-Collar and Q30 Innovations–with a team of leaders in sports medicine and biomedical engineering–took a fresh look at brain protection by designing an innovative solution that relies on the body’s physiology to provide protection for the brain from within.

Initial research revealed that jugular vein compression can reduce damage to brain neurons and axons (key indicators of brain injury) by over 80%.

Years of laboratory and clinical testing revealed that jugular vein compression can protect the brain in a way no external protection could.

An Added Layer of Protection

Helmets can reduce serious injury to the skull by preventing direct contact and spreading the force of impact over a greater surface area. But they can’t limit brain movement. The Q-Collar helps protect the brain from within, focusing on the source of serious head injuries: the brain.

When the head absorbs a hit, the brain bounces back and forth against the inside of the skull. This rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain – a phenomenon known as [tooltip label="brain slosh"]
<strong>What is brain slosh?</strong>The movement of the brain inside the skull
[/tooltip] – stretches and tears brain fibers, resulting in [tooltip label="Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)"]
A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is an injury that affects how the brain works. It could be caused by one or several blows, bumps or impacts to the head.
[/tooltip].

Q30 Sports Science: Science of Brain Safety (1)

A Decade of Research

Leading research institutions conducted over 28 independent laboratory, clinical and wearability studies involving Olympic, professional, youth athletes, and SWAT personnel over the last ten years to evaluate the Q-Collar's effectiveness.

Jugular compression reduced damage to brain neurons and axons (key indicators of brain injury) by 83%.

Pre-Clinical Study

There is no statistical risk to the body from wearing the collar (Human Performance Study) and no interference with performance, movement, and endurance. (In some cases, wearing the collar actually enhances performance.)

Learn More

Wearing the Q-Collar resulted in no significant changes in white matter in 77% of athletes wearing the collar, while significant changes in white matter were found in 73% of athletes not wearing the collar.

See The Study

Wearing the Q-Collar may reduce the risk and severity of traumatic brain injury (including reduced risk of hearing loss*) from blast waves*, in addition to collisions.

Read the Studies

Learn more about the research findings and clinical trials.

Read the Research

Buy Q-Collar

*These uses have not been evaluated or cleared by the FDA. Further research is necessary to determine whether the Q-Collar can provide these benefits to users.

Help protect your future on and off the field.

“The Q-Collar is just another piece of equipment keeping me healthy on the field, taking care of my body with my brain; I want to be successful in my future when Lacrosse is over, whether that's coaching, being a good husband, or being a good father.”

Jesse Bernhardt

Professional Lacrosse Player & Coach

Damage from brain slosh can be catastrophic when it occurs on a large scale, but research shows that it is also quite harmful on a small scale–especially in the long term.

Damage from these smaller events, called repetitive sub-concussive impacts, accumulates over time. Repeated impacts caused by headers, jostling, and collisions may alter the [tooltip label="white matter"]
<strong>What is white matter?</strong>
Deeper tissues of the brain
[/tooltip], or deep tissue, of the brain, posing long-term health risks including decreased mental acuity, [tooltip label="chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)"]
A brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. It has been linked to specific changes in the brain that affect how the brain works
[/tooltip], dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

Did you know?

College football players experience an estimated 950-1,350 repetitive, sub-concussive head impacts per season.

Even youth football players (who constitute about 70% of all football players) absorb an average of 3.7 head impacts per game and 1.5 impacts per practice.

From 2000 to 2020, more than 430,000 U.S. service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (which are typically the result of head impacts and blast waves).

With the exception of football, female soccer players experience the highest rate of concussions out of any other athletes.

Buy Q-Collar

“The science behind the Q-Collar is
mind-boggling in its simplicity. The data behind the Q-Collar is really compelling. There is no real question anymore – the athletes that are making this a part of their protective gear are more protected.”

Dr. Wayne Olan

Director of Interventional and Endovascular Neurosurgery, George Washington University

Before you continue..

Please verify that you've reviewed the measurement and sizing guides and selected the suitable size.

Sizing Guide

Step 1: Measure Your Neck

An accurate measurement is very important to selecting the right size Q-Collar. Referencing your shirt size and guessing are not recommended.

Use a soft measuring tape to measure the middle of the neck. Pull the tape snug so there is zero slack between the tape and neck. Measure three times and take the smallest measurement

Step 2: Find Your Fit

Input your measurement from step 1, then find your Q-Collar size on the chart. If you are between sizes, choose the smaller size.

Neck Measurement

Q-Collar Size

Inches

Centimeters

Q30 Sports Science: Science of Brain Safety (2024)

FAQs

Q30 Sports Science: Science of Brain Safety? ›

Because the brain floats inside the skull, it moves – sometimes with great force – when the head is exposed to an impact. By applying light pressure to the sides of the neck, the Q-Collar

Q-Collar
The Q-Collar is a simple and safe device that applies light pressure to the jugular veins. This pressure causes a slight increase of blood volume inside the head and helps reduce the brain's movement upon impact, which is the primary cause of brain injury.
https://q30.com › products › q-collar
increases blood volume in the brain's venous structures, reducing the harmful internal movement that causes brain injury.

Does the Q-Collar really work? ›

While the FDA authorized the product for marketing, the agency did warn at the time that Q-Collars shouldn't be used by athletes with certain conditions. It also noted the collars cannot prevent concussions or serious head injuries. Even Kuechly suffered a concussion in the weeks after he began wearing the Q-Collar.

What age for a Q-Collar? ›

The US FDA and Health Canada have authorized the Q-Collar for use by all athletes ages 13 and over.

What is the function of the Q-Collar? ›

The Q-Collar is a simple and safe device that applies light pressure to the jugular veins. This pressure causes a slight increase of blood volume inside the head and helps reduce the brain's movement upon impact, which is the primary cause of brain injury.

Who owns the Q-Collar? ›

Q30 Innovations, based in Westport, Conn., had a significant triumph last year when the F.D.A. approved the Q-Collar for sale as a medical device in the United States. The agency declared that company-funded studies had shown it might limit damage to brain tissue.

Does the NFL use Q collars? ›

I feel like wearing the Q-Collar, especially with the big impacts that we take as football players and as a running back, will definitely help me.” Shaq Thompson, linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, had a more personal story of why he began to use the Q-Collar. “Luke Kuechly is who made me decide to try the Q-Collar.

What are the side effects of vibration collars? ›

Below are some of the cons of using vibration collars:
  • Some dogs are scared of them.
  • Not effective for all dogs.
  • Can irritate the skin if worn for long periods of time.
  • May be uncomfortable if not fastened properly.
  • Long-haired dogs may not feel the vibrations.
Feb 25, 2021

What is a J collar? ›

A Miami J collar is a neck brace used to prevent head and neck movement after a spinal cord injury or surgery.

When was the Q-Collar invented? ›

Q-Collar data and studies

The company was formed in 2012 and the first laboratory research study using a standard acceleration-deceleration model of mild traumatic brain injury found the device prevented axonal injury after internal jugular vein compression.

Do concussion bands really work? ›

And while there's little scientific research showing these headbands can prevent concussions (manufacturers are careful to say the headbands only reduce risk), increased awareness about concussions — and their consequences — has made them a more visible option.

How many players wear the Q-Collar? ›

In February 2021 the Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of the Q-Collar, saying that "the device may reduce the occurrence of specific changes in the brain that are associated with brain injury." Now, about 40 guys in the NFL are wearing one.

What is the difference between a helmet and a Q-Collar? ›

While a helmet protects the skull from the outside, the Q-Collar gives an added layer of protection on the inside by limiting brain movement.

Is Q30 publicly traded? ›

Is Q30 Innovations a private or public company? Q30 Innovations is a Private company.

What are the benefits of the Q-Collar football? ›

The Q-Collar helps protect the brain from within, focusing on the source of serious head injuries: the brain. When the head absorbs a hit, the brain bounces back and forth against the inside of the skull. This rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain – a phenomenon known as brain slosh What is brain slosh?

What are the benefits of the O ring collar? ›

Central O-Ring collars are designed with "rollover safety" in mind, allowing for flex at the O ring point - the 2 strap pieces can move in an angular manner away from each other, thus allowing for collar escape should your pup become entangled in environmental hazards like heavy brush, fence wire, etc...

Do neck support collars work? ›

Although cervical collars can help support and protect your neck in the short-term, research has shown that long-term use of a cervical collar may lead to weakening and stiffening of your neck muscles. In cases of acute injury, this is largely unavoidable.

References

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