Written by Megan Smith, PT
In the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Concussion, Will Smith plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian forensic pathologist who turned the world of football upside down with his discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is the traumatic and long-term deterioration of the brain as a result of multiple concussions.
Omalu identified this condition in 2002 when he autopsied the body of former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster, and conducted an examination of Webster’s brain. While Webster’s official cause of death was a heart attack, Omalu found clear evidence that repeated blows to Webster’s frontal lobe had resulted in amnesia, depression, and early onset dementia. Omalu’s discovery of CTE and subsequent passionate persistence in drawing attention to what he’d found would change the world of contact sports forever.
(Photo courtesy of Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy)
Omalu also set the stage for a marketer from Cranberry, Pennsylvania to invent a product that would protect young athletes from traumatic brain injury in a way that nothing had before.
In 2010, Federico Olivares watched as his 6-year-old son fell off a four-wheeler and hit his head on concrete. Fortunately, the boy was wearing a helmet - but Olivares was shaken nonetheless.
“I realized that in a split second, our lives could change,” said Olivares. “I felt helpless and knew at that moment that I had to do something about this - for me, and for other parents. If there was one product that could add protection to any sport helmet, what would it look like?”
The 2nd Skull line of protective headgear became the answer.
It’s true: there are other skullcaps on the market meant to be worn beneath a helmet to add head protection. However, they are thicker and bulkier than the 2nd Skull cap, and make helmets fit badly. Olivares saw this oversight in headwear design and realized it defeated the purpose of head protection.
2nd Skull products are made of a soft urethane material called XRD, whose defining property is the ability to absorb large amounts of impact. In fact, what makes XRD unique is that it is soft and flexible (as you would want a cap to be), but hardens upon sudden impact, absorbing the shock and greatly minimizing the chances of the brain moving within the skull.
In contrast to 2nd Skull designs, the foam found inside most sports helmets does not absorb shock; rather, an object that hits a helmet merely bounces off. While this deflection of impact is important, the force of the blow still registers against the athlete’s helmeted head.
The 2nd Skull products have undergone rigorous third-party testing, much the same as helmets do - and the results speak for themselves.
Tested for football, baseball, lacrosse, skiing, snowboarding and more, the 2nd Skull Skullcap demonstrates significant impact reduction over traditional forms of head protection alone.
2nd Skull’s Impact Resistant Protective Headbands, slightly different from the Skullcap, can be worn without any supplementary head protection. Providing a more modest (yet incredibly effective) barrier between the front, back and sides of the head, this defensive band works to reduce the impact of cranial strikes in sports such as soccer, basketball and lacrosse.
Any professional, college or amateur player involved in a sport where they receive repeated, low-level hits to the head over time is at risk for the long-term health effects associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The 2nd Skull Skullcap, along with the Headgear, offer protection and stabilization in a format that is both stylish and scientifically proven.
Lower-impact sports that attract children, teenagers and young adults still come with the risk of impact to the head; an elbow to the temple in a basketball game can cause a one-time concussion or a long-term neurological disability. For these athletes, there is the 2nd Skull Headband.
At the end of the day, contact sports come with inherent risk, which all athletes and players must reconcile before stepping onto the field. If hit hard enough, there’s not much that will protect players from an injury. But the 2nd Skull product line can reduce the impact taken from a hit by almost a third - and that’s a lot of impact injuries avoided.
“I have two sons playing football, one a high school varsity linebacker and another AAU 14U quarterback. They both love it! Older son played his spring game with his on and told me it made a huge difference with the impact of the game. Won't play without one now.” - Amazon review, 2nd Skull Protective Skull Cap
“I'm an amateur MMA fighter. I have used 2nd Skull under my headgear during heavy sparring sessions. It works. It definitely reduces the ‘sting’ of the strike to my head. I have also used a similar product from Skulltec and in my opinion, 2nd Skull works better.” - Amazon review, 2nd Skull Protective Skull Cap
Megan has been a part of Rehabmart since its inception nearly 20 years ago. For the past several years she has been enjoying her role as HR Director while maintaining her Physical Therapy license. When she isn't working on her next in-service or working to find a new team member, she enjoys her five children, helping those who have PT type ailments, baking, practicing yoga, and working out.
