Unequal Technologies , which provides head and body armor for soldiers and athletes, called for government regulations for such products during a presentation it made to NFL players at last month’s National Football League Player Association (NFLPA) annual meeting.




Unequal founder and President Rob Vito addressed the issue of concussions in an effort to raise awareness around new, innovative and proven technology that can make the sport of football — among other sports — safer. As part of the presentation, Vito demonstrated how Unequal's patented CRT head armor helps reduce the possibility of head injury, and EXO Skeleton  body armor helps reduce the possibility of bodily injury in the NFL.


“Concussions have become the 'Injury of our Age' and we were honored to be asked by the NFL Players Association to address this topic,” stated Vito. “We are pleased our CRT technology is recognized for making a positive difference in the fight against head injuries with professional football and hockey players; as well as college and high school student athletes. CRT  is a patented, military-grade composite fused with DuPont Kevlar that helps reduce the possibility of injury by reducing up to 50 percent Severity Index and up to 25 percent G-Force. This reduction can have a significant impact on protecting athletes.”


With regard to concussions, the statistics are startling when you consider:


  • 1.6 to 3.8 million sports related concussions occur in the United States, most often in organized high school sports. National Athletic Trainers' Association (“NATA”) 
  • Nearly 85 percent of concussions go undiagnosed and kids return to the game too quickly. Sports Concussion Institute
  • Football players who suffer a concussion are 3X more likely to suffer another concussion the same season. American Journal of Sports Medicine 
  • 31  percent of concussed athletes will play the same day they were injured. American Journal of Sports Medicine

During Vito's presentation to the NFLPA, some attendees were surprised to learn that there were no governmental regulations setting safety standards for sport protective pads and helmets; rather it was voluntary. For example, football padding is not independently tested to measure its protective attributes. So a manufacturer could put couch foam between cardboard and call it a chest protector. There needs to be regulatory standards and monitoring established. A pad's effectiveness should be calibrated in an independent laboratory environment that simulates impact levels generated by a 250+ lbs. defensive lineman and a pad's absorption/protection levels against such contact.



This lack of regulatory oversight has led to devastating injuries, including death. “No one should die playing catch,” said Thomas Adams, the father of a 16-year-old high school catcher who was killed during team practice when he was struck in the chest with a baseball while wearing a chest protector. “It is reasonable for a parent, coach and trainer to assume that a chest protector should protect players against such impact.”


Currently, the voluntary NOCSAE helmet safety standards do not take into consideration concussion prevention. Instead, its guidelines, which haven't been significantly updated since 1973, aim only to protect against skull fractures, according to the NATA. While there haven't been any reported skull fractures since the 1980s, players have experience other types of head injuries, including concussions.

 

However, the current helmet safety standards do not fully address these other injuries, just skull fractures. Given the sharp rise in head injuries, there needs to be more protection built into today's helmets that reflect the current highly competitive and aggressiveness of the sport combined with the superman-like strength and skills of today's athletes.


With more than 66 US and International patents and patents pending, Unequal Technologies has been tested by independent and OEM facilities. In addition, top universities have validated Unequal's effectiveness in reducing blunt force impact.