In the US alone, about 3.8 million concussions occur every year from sports-related injuries. Defined as a brain injury from a blow or jolt to the head, a concussion can severely disrupt the brain's normal functions, with consequences ranging from constant or recurring pain, sensory changes, and speech difficulty to cognitive challenges like agitation and disorientation. Rising injuries have led to the NFL mandating helmets in 1940. But recent studies show that helmets cannot protect players against all the mechanisms and forces that cause concussions. This poses a crucial question: Can more be done to prevent life-altering injuries on the field?
The structural anatomy of the brain is designed to protect itself from injury, created by the forces of direct or indirect impact to the head. The cerebrospinal fluid, contained and flowing within the brain, acts as a cushion against external forces, causing the head to push the brain back and forth. However, higher impact at an accelerated speed is likely not to be absorbed by the cerebrospinal fluid's layer of protection. Understanding that these types of injuries happen almost every day on the field, Guardian Athletics took matters into its own hands. The company's flagship product, the Kato Collar, addresses the industry's shortcomings with a blend of science and passion.
