The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is well underway and fans of the beautiful game have been treated to scintillating games and performances. While the biggest stage of women’s football is once again delivering for fans to enjoy, there have been some differences spotted to what we are accustomed to. You’re probably wondering why you’ve seen some players wearing a device around the neck?
One such player seen wearing the device was Canadian midfielder Quinn, she wore it during their side’s goalless draw against Nigeria on Day 2 of the tournament. As well as Costa Rican star Rocky Rodriguez.
But what is it? It is called a Q-Collar, a horseshoe-shaped like piece of silicone which is placed around the neck. The device is said to “protect the brain from the inside to combat the prevalence of brain injuries in contact sport.”
Before the World Cup a conversation about “how sport affects women in comparison to our male counterparts” came under spotlight this after we saw some females withdraw from the tournament due to an ACL injury. As the World Cup started, a study came out in the American Medical Association, emphasizing the potential dangers of football and the impact sport participation can have on a woman. The study found that “the risk of cognitive impairment increased with the cumulative heading frequency,” supporting other studies suggesting that heading the ball could lead to brain injuries.
The Q-Collar was cleared for sale as a medical device in 2021 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which found that research studies “indicate protection of the brain associated with device use.”
Dr. David Smith, who designed the device, the Q-Collar offers “mild compression against the jugular veins, which causes a very small backfilling into the cranial space.”
Additionally, the research suggests that female athletes are significantly more likely to experience concussions and other brain injuries than their male counterparts.
Australians Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik miss out on their 2-1 victory versus Nigeria due to concussions sustained in training.
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