Triax gear to monitor pro lacrosse head hits
Norwalk-based Triax Technologies Inc. and Major League Lacrosse have formed a partnership to outfit players for the 2015 lacrosse season with Triax”™s Smart Impact Monitors to track and assess head impacts.
Use of the Triax impact monitor makes Boston-based MLL the first professional sports league in the U.S. to provide its athletes and trainers with the head impact-monitoring technology, Triax reported in a statement.
The monitors will be used during select practices and games.
- Triax headware.
“We cannot stop injuries from occurring, but anything we can do to provide safety is of the utmost importance and it is imperative that we take these next steps,” said David Gross, MLL commissioner, in a statement. “Our players are our greatest asset and we will continue to strive to create the safest environment possible.”
The New York Lizards were to premiere the Triax monitors April 12, opening day of the MLL season. Triax monitoring devices, according to the company, “are worn in comfortable, unobtrusive headbands or skullcaps to record head impacts, and transmit data in real time from the field to a smartphone or tablet on the sideline.”
Triax said the technology allows trainers to track up to 180 individual head impacts, measuring the G-force of hits and jarring through linear and rotational measures.
The data collected from the MLL players will be used in collaboration with concussion research conducted by the New York City-based Sports Legacy Institute, a nonprofit, to increase understanding about prevention, detection and management of concussive and subconcussive hits and for the institute”™s “Hit Count” initiative.
Chris Nowinski, co-founder and executive director of the Sports Legacy Institute, said, “We are excited to work with MLL because of their strong commitment to providing the safest possible environment for athletes. This technology will allow us to gather data that will guide us as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of MLL players.”
The data from the players will be used to guide training technique and player assessment.
“The fast-paced physicality of lacrosse has made it among the most rapidly growing sports in the country,” said Mike Spreckels, head athletic trainer, New York Lizards. “And with this growth and excitement generated by the game comes a responsibility from the league to the professional athletes as well as the youth players who are coming up behind them. We want to know that we”™re promoting safe practices and that we”™re identifying and preventing potential risks to player health and safety ”“ particularly in the area of head impacts.”
Studies have shown that most players do not report concussive symptoms experienced during competitions, let alone subconcussive hits, Triax reported. Recognizing these impacts is critical for immediate evaluation of players.
“The advancements in technology are allowing us to support athletes as they push themselves to not just perform at their best, but also to remain at their best,” said Chad Hollingsworth, co-founder of Triax Technologies. “Our mission is to continue to redefine athletic training and to support today”™s athletes who are raising the bar every day.”
Triax reported its devices are being used or evaluated for use with 18 institutions and universities as part of research projects.