Q Collar: The physical demands on elite athletes are at an all-time high. Contemporary athletes are more potent, formidable, and relentless than ever before; they are constantly testing the limits of what is possible.
As extraordinary achievements have become the norm at the pinnacle of athletics, this provides spectators with an exhilarating spectacle. The athletes’ pursuit of enhanced performance may prove to be perilous.
Due to the frequent, high-velocity collisions that occur in contact sports, the risk of brain injury has become more widely recognized in recent years. A growing number of NFL players and other athletes have begun to implement additional precautions on the field to reduce the risk.
On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill will don the Q collar for Super Bowl LVIII. Omar González, a three-time MLS Cup champion, has been an outspoken advocate for the collar in soccer.
By applying pressure to the area surrounding the wearer’s neck, the Q collar induces a marginal elevation in blood volume within the venous structures of the brain. According to its creators, this additional blood can prevent “brain slosh,” which is the tearing and stretching of brain fibers, by reducing brain movement within the cranium.
Although scientists concur that Q Collar’s premise regarding brain preservation is valid, some have questioned the device’s potential benefits. Undoubtedly, athletes who put their long-term health at risk on the field need stronger safeguards. As he prepared for the upcoming MLS season, we spoke with FC Dallas defender Omar González to gain a greater understanding of the situation.
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What motivates athletes to don the Q Collar neck device?
González, 35, has won many US and Mexican titles after 15 years as a professional. Along with David Beckham and Landon Donovan, he led the LA Galaxy’s defense at 6’5″. He started wearing a Q collar after researching preventive measures after winning innumerable headers and blocking countless shots in 15 years as a professional.
“I had teammates whose careers ended prematurely,” he tells AS USA. After multiple concussions from a ball to the head, Alecko Eskandarian retired during my rookie year. I never pondered how to protect myself or what services are available to reduce brain trauma, even though I had always considered it. I didn’t consider TBI or brain sloshing.
He learned about the risk early in his career, but he didn’t take precautions until later. Recent advances in soccer and other fields have improved brain injury understanding, allowing him to take preventative steps.
“I had a couple of head injuries in 2021 before [the Q Collar]’s absence, but they didn’t prohibit me from playing or training. After a few months, I had a chipped tooth, sutures, and a facial blow.
I never missed a training session; however, when I arrived at the training facility and encountered the security officer, to whom I would greet him daily, his name failed to occur to me even as I looked him in the eye. Thus, there were occasions when I distinctly recalled nothing, which was quite alarming.”
Gonzàlez was subsequently introduced to the Q Collar and has consistently adorned it for all training sessions and matches ever since.
Brain damage in sports is associated with various hazards.
Brain damage is a hot concern in sports because of academic studies and legal cases showing the long-term effects of repeated impacts on neurological functions. Boston University research found that 91.7% of 376 former NFL players had CTE.
Early this year, 19 former UK soccer players sued for brain injuries. Many sportsmen are contemplating these issues, but the Dallas defender wants more to seriously consider adding protection.
“I expect and want to talk to more players about it. There is no reason not to wear it if it will extend your professional life and improve your post-sport life with family.” González says yes.
Who should be responsible for athletes’ long-term welfare? More NFL players, including González and Tranquill, are assessing the hazards, but not all have the time or interest.
In most sports, players wear the gameday outfit; should more be done to educate them about their options?
says, “I believe players should be informed of the potential consequences that may arise.” If the head impacts continue and the road looks different, “Perhaps they would have a different perspective on what they can do right now to prevent that from occurring.”
“Believe me, when it comes to anything, your power is proportional to your level of knowledge.”
