Avoiding Concussions with TopSpin360?

It could win the prize for “unusual looking device”, but its developers say it could help football (American football. Or Canadian football.) (or, for that matter, soccer / football too!) (hockey!) players avoid concussions.

I may be a little late with this story, which came out right before the Superbowl. So instead I’m posting it right after the Grey Cup, just for all my Canadian readers. 🙂

TopSpin360 is the device, and it’s pictured above. To get the details, it’s worth watching the video below. But essentially, that little bar on top of the “helmet” spins, and you make it spin using your neck muscles. This increases muscle strength and reflexes – and you might even be able to multitask and do some other exercises or stretches at the same time.

Strengthening the neck muscles in this way should significantly decrease the risk of concussion (traumatic brain injury). Then again, if you spend hours every week purposefully ramming into other people with all your strength, even devices like this can only do so much.

In recent years, the NFL has hosted a competition called 1st & Future, which allows companies to show off their new inventions that could improve performance or improve safety and healing. This past winter, it was TopSPin360 that won, for its fight against concussion.

TopSpin360 is currently undergoing a clinical trial with female varsity athletes. It will also be beginning a trial soon to see how well the device works for rehabilitation with someone who has already had a concussion (trial headed up in Canada – for information, see Cervicogenic Concussion Rehabilitation With TopSpin360).

Read more about the competition that the device won here: NFL tech competition winners reduce concussions and heal with light Visit the official website for the device here: TopSpin360