2nd Skull® With XRD® Protection Technology Reduces Soccer Head Impact by 37%

New Protective Headgear Adds Protection to Soccer Players

ROGERS, CT--(- May 13, 2014) - Concussions are on the rise in soccer, and as a result more and more players, even the pros, are wearing protective headbands. One of the leading manufacturers of impact protection foam for extreme sports athletes, XRD® Extreme Impact Protection, has teamed up with a new company, 2nd Skull®, to create a low profile headband that reduces head impacts for soccer players by up to 37 percent. [1]

"We've seen an alarming increase in concussions among soccer players, and there's no reason for players not to add some type of additional impact protection," says Federico Olivares, founder and CEO of 2nd Skull. "Our patented product is thin, comfortable, unobtrusive, and unlike any others on the market, scientifically proven to provide a high level of impact protection."

The launch of the 2nd Skull products comes at a time when concussion and traumatic brain injury rates are increasing in all sports. Several recent studies show that concussion rates in high school sports increased 4.2 times from 1997 to 2008. [2] According to the study, football players suffer the most brain injuries, followed by female soccer players. The recent high profile skiing injury sustained by Michael Schumacher demonstrated that other sports are not immune from this trend. When an athlete suffers a concussion, repeat occurrences become more likely as well. [3]

Predictably, adding head protection may reduce the likelihood and severity of injury. An independent study confirms the efficacy of wearing head protection even in sports where helmets are not traditionally required. It found that soccer players could reduce concussion risk by 2.65 times simply by wearing head protection [4]. Already, professional players like Manchester United's Wayne Rooney have started to wear protective headbands, and several youth soccer leagues have started to require protective headgear.

2nd Skull products provide an unobtrusive and proven way to add a higher level of head impact protection. They are made with XRD Protection Technology, which is a multi-purpose foam uniquely designed for wearable impact protection. It is thin, flexible, soft to the touch and comfortable when worn, but firms upon impact to form a protective shell around the wearer. The molecular structure of XRD Technology makes it completely effective throughout the life of the product, even after numerous repeated impacts. These unique properties allow the 2nd Skull products to significantly reduce impact with a thickness of only two millimeters.

2nd Skull's product line includes the 2nd Skull® Band, designed for sports like soccer that do not require helmets, and the 2nd Skull® Cap, which is a thin, form-fitting skullcap designed to be worn under a standard sports helmet. While 2nd Skull products have not been tested specifically for concussions, the Cap provides 35 percent to 63 percent more impact protection than a helmet alone, depending on the sport.

Both the 2nd Skull Band and Cap are available now on 2ndskull.com.

Notes:
[1]: All impact testing was performed by 2nd Skull
[2]: Lincoln A, Caswell S, Almquist J, Dunn R, Norris J, Hinton R. Trends in Concussion Incidence in High School Sports: A Prospective 11-Year Study. Am. J. Sports Med. 2011; 39(5):958-963.
[3]: Guskiewicz KM, McCrea M, Marshall SW, et al. Cumulative effects associated with recurrent concussion in collegiate football players: the NCAA Concussion Study. JAMA. 2003;290(19):2549-2555.
[4]: Delaney JS, Al-Kashmiri A, Drummond R, Correa JA. The effect of protective headgear on head injuries and concussion in adolescent football (soccer) players. Br J Sports Med. 2008;42(2):110-115.
About XRD® Extreme Impact Protection

XRD® Technology is a revolutionary impact foam that provides unrivaled repeated impact protection and unparalleled product design capabilities. XRD Technology is thin, flexible, breathable, soft to the touch, and comfortable when worn, but firms upon impact to form a protective shell around the wearer or object. The unique material formulation of XRD Extreme Impact Protection ensures the utmost comfort, durability, and performance throughout the life of the product. It is found in a variety of protective products and equipment across the team sports, motorsports, consumer electronic, workwear, military and safety industries. For more information, please visit poronxrd.com

About 2nd Skull, LLC

2nd Skull® is a protective headgear company with patented and patent pending products proven to add impact protection. 2nd Skull® products have a thin, soft, flexible and breathable layer of XRD® that delivers impact protection. The special urethane molecules are soft at rest but harden upon impact, absorbing 90% of the energy. 2nd Skull® has a protective headgear product for any activity. The 2nd Skull® CAP is intended for any sport or activity where a helmet is required, such as football, hockey, or baseball. The 2nd Skull® BAND is for any sport or activity where no helmet is required and in sports such as soccer or basketball. 2nd Skull products are proudly Made in the USA.

For more information, please visit 2ndSkull.com

About Rogers Corporation

Rogers Corporation is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect, and connect our world. With more than 180 years of materials science experience, Rogers is the designer and manufacturer of XRD® Extreme Impact Protection materials along with a variety of additional high-performance solutions that enable clean energy, internet connectivity, advanced transportation and other technologies where reliability is critical. Headquartered in Connecticut (USA), Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, China, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and South Korea, with joint ventures and sales offices worldwide.

For more information, visit www.rogerscorp.com.

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