A University of Wisconsin soccer study shows that Unequal Halo headgear significantly reduced the incidence or severity of sport-related concussion (SRC), in U.S. high school athletes, specifically, by 100 percent for boys and 35 percent for girls.
Dr. Timothy McGuine, Orthopedics – University of Wisconsin and author of the study, detailed Unequal HALO’s high effectiveness in the study’s supplementary table. HALO protected athletes in the World Cup and Olympics.
This study is the first large randomized controlled trials to determine whether soccer headgear reduces the incidence or severity of SRC in US high school athletes. Despite the Wisconsin study data showing ‘soccer headgear did not reduce the incidence or severity of SRC in high school soccer players,’ for all of the results combined, the results by individual product showed otherwise. The Unequal HALO, when compared to players without headgear, showed the SRC rate for boys was dramatically reduced by 100 percent, and the girls was lowered by 35 percent. Consequently, the study’s generalized conclusion does not accurately represent the effective protection of superior headgear, like the Unequal HALO.
Dr. Joseph Maroon, a prominent world renowned Neurosurgeon, noted, “the concern with generalized conclusions is all tested products are combined into one result, so the proven headgear is negatively skewed by poor headgear, causing the study’s conclusion to be misleading. It’s analogous to a teacher giving each student the average grade based on the entire class.” Maroon added, “analysis of Wisconsin’s supplementary table showed the SRC rate of ‘inferior’ headgear was as bad as wearing ‘no’ headgear, which is consistent with the extensive testing of Virginia Tech. That is why Virginia Tech only recommends the 4 or 5-star rated headgear, like Unequal HALO.”
Virginia Tech’s results of the Unequal HALO was confirmed by the Wisconsin study. The HALO was awarded 5-stars, the highest rating by Virginia Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics.
The study’s results are the first independent ratings assigned to the evaluation of protective headgear for soccer players. A video is available at: Virginia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics headgear test.
The study’s results are the first independent ratings assigned to the evaluation of protective headgear for soccer players.
Rob Vito, Unequal CEO, remarked, “soccer leagues do not mandate head protection even though girls’ youth soccer concussion rates now surpass boys high school football concussion rates. Soccer head protection must be mandated like women’s lacrosse and ‘7 on 7’ football, that recently mandated head protection and showed a significant drop in the concussion rates.”
