What is a Q collar and why do NFL players wear it?
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard was seen wearing a Q collar this weekend, which raised the curiosity of several NFL fans.
We are used to seeing the usual paraphernalia with NFL players, including helmets and under-body gear, but this was not something that we see every day.
However, over time, it may just become another thing that players use more wisely. Here's everything you need to know about the NFL's latest gear.
What is a Q collar?
A Q Collar is a patented device by the company Q30 that received FDA approval in 2021. Before that, it was worn experimentally by players such as Luke Kuechly.
The Q collar creates a little kink in the jugular vein that increases the flow of blood to the brain.
That extra blood serves as a cushion to the brain when the players are in action.
Why do NFL players wear Q collars?
The phenomenon explained above makes all the difference to NFL players who are at a heightened risk of concussion.
Concussions do not occur only when there is a direct hit to the head, though the chances increase because of that particular turn of events.
However, what causes repetitive concussions in the brain are sudden changes in momentum that cause the brain to move in the cranial fluid and bump into the inner skull. Therefore, practically any hit can lead to a concussion if it significantly changes the momentum of the player when they are tackled in the NFL.
An extra infusion of blood creates an airbag effect and restrains the ability of the brain to move inside the cranial fluid. It then reduces concussions.
In college players, incidences of change in deep brain tissue dropped from 77% to 27% for those that sported the collar.
Considering the very nature of the game and how the NFL has struggled to counteract its unsafe nature, the Q collar might be a boon for the league.
Over time, it could become mandatory to be worn by every player in the league.
There was a time when helmets were not mandatory in the NFL, but today the helmet is not allowed to be removed when the play clock is running.
The device is still not a common sight, but it seems to show significant benefits for it to be tried in a more widespread manner by NFL players. Tony Pollard may very well be the first of many to hop on the Q collar bandwagon.
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