PROTECTING YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME

Head injuries are a constant concern for athletes who play hardhitting contact sports. And while many injuries may be caused by a single blow on the field, some of the more minor, yet still jarring, hits that occur may go unnoticed, even though these hits could still lead to serious health issues.

To track hits to players’ heads during games and practice sessions, two wearable devices may soon make it much easier, helping soothe the fears of parents, coaches, and athletes everywhere. Developed by Reebok and MC10, the CheckLight is a washable beanie that can be worn under or without a helmet. The sensors within the beanie come equipped with an LED light that will blink when there is a blow to the head. The light blinks yellow if the impact is moderate and red if the impact is severe. Launched this summer, CheckLight can be purchased for $150 at shop.reebok.com/us/content/CheckLight.

Also slated to launch next year is the X-Patch from X2 Biosystems in Seattle. The sensor attaches directly behind a player’s ear and transmits data about head impacts wirelessly to a computer on the sidelines.