Colleges, High Schools, Youth Leagues Use Unequal to Combat Concussion Risk
Independent doctor's report on Unequal Technologies' supplemental head protection prompts mandate
GLEN MILLS, Pa., Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Chad Stephens, a high school team doctor in Decatur, Texas, recently released a study highlighting his experience and research on mitigating concussion risk in football; a study that caught the attention of SMU, Illinois College, POP Warner and other schools, districts and leagues around the country. The independent report examined lab impact data as well as the medical opinions of leading neurosurgeons that concluded "helmets with Unequal® predict a significantly lower risk of concussions." This conclusion was supported by field data that Stephens compiled from 14 high schools in four states and Canada during the 2013 football season on the number of concussions sustained by 1,159 players of various ages and skill levels.
The results showed a significant reduction in the occurrence of concussions by players who used Unequal in various brands and styles of football helmets manufactured by Schutt® Sports, Riddell® and Xenith®. In fact, players supplementing their helmets with the Unequal Gyro® experienced less than a 1% concussion rate, while their teammates not using the Gyro® experienced more than a 9% concussion rate. The report can be downloaded here.
All distinctively green Unequal products use a patented, military-grade composite fortified with Kevlar® and Accelleron™ to absorb and disperse impact forces. Dr. Stephens wrote the report to highlight this important technology that can make a difference in protecting players at all levels of play. "Discovering something this significant that enables kids to more safely play the sport they love, I felt a duty to share it with the world. The field and lab data were very impressive, and experts like acclaimed board certified neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Maroon, co-developer of ImPACT®, the most-widely used, most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system in the world, had vetted the data and issued very favorable opinions about Unequal's effectiveness and recommended its use," said Stephens.
The topic of Stephens' report and Unequal's head protection was featured on Fox & Friends in a segment that aired on Friday, October 17th on which Unequal's CEO Rob Vito stated that the report was a leading driver behind schools and leagues taking action to better protect players.
Southern Methodist University, an NCAA Division I college, has mandated use of Unequal's Gyro in all player helmets. "We first started using Unequal selectively three seasons ago," said Albert Veytia, Equipment Manager at SMU. "We have been so impressed with the level of protection Unequal provides, it was the next logical step to make sure our whole team was protected by Unequal."
Illinois College (IC), a Division III college, has also outfitted its entire team with the Unequal Gyro. IC Athletic Director Mike Snyder says he had an obligation to provide players the choice to use Unequal.
"As an athletics administrator, the topic of student-athlete safety is always on my mind," said Snyder. "Working with our coach and team doctors we came to the conclusion that providing the Gyro to our players was the best move for the football team's safety."
Vito feels that Unequal's growing acceptance among players, schools and leagues is inevitable. "Player experience and product performance is driving our success. After SMU mandated the Gyro, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders' son, a player on SMU's team, took a horrific hit to the head but had Unequal in his helmet. Sanders exclaimed to him afterward how glad he had to be that the coach made him use it. POP Warner, the oldest youth football league in the country, is partnering with us to confirm the efficacy of Unequal head protection. A fast-growing list of high schools is protecting players with Unequal. And as for the pros, hours after All Pro linebacker James Harrison came out of retirement to rejoin the Pittsburgh Steelers, he called me and insisted I retrofit his helmet with Unequal ASAP, proclaiming, 'I won't play without Unequal.' While in the Steelers locker room I saw that Troy Polamalo was using the same 'Unequaled' helmet from last season because it protected him so well. Ryan Clark suffered two concussions in 3 weeks with the Steelers in 2012, started using Unequal, played the rest of that year injury free; 2013, had no concussions; now with the Washington Redskins swears by Unequal. The fact is once you've experienced Unequal protection, you won't play without it," said Vito.
To learn more about Unequal products or Unequal Technologies, visit unequal.com.
About Unequal
Unequal Technologies Company's mission is to protect people in the military, sports, work and life. Its patented fusion of a military-grade composite fortified with Kevlar® and Accelleron® is engineered for customized, concealed protection. Professionals in the NFL, MLB, NHL and X Games, as well as thousands of collegiate and youth athletes in football, baseball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, action sports, contact sports and other activities, wear Unequal's protective head and body gear. Unequal's technology is protected by over 85 U.S. and international patents and patents pending and its products have been tested by independent, accredited laboratories, OEM facilities and top universities. Recently invited to attend the White House Concussion Summit, Unequal is recognized as a Forbes' 100 Most Promising Companies, ESPN's Top 15 Best Sports Innovations, the No. 1 tech innovation of 2013 by Esquire.com and winner of the DuPont™ Kevlar® Innovation Award. For more information, visit http://www.unequal.com.
SOURCE Unequal Technologies Company
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