Manly Warringah Sea Eagles joined Sports technology innovator eo today to launch a breakthrough concussion treatment designed for use in all contact sports.
PolarCap® by eo improves athletes’ recovery, reduces acute symptoms and significantly lowers the risk of long-term concussion absences, through selective head and neck cooling.
Following a successful 18-month trial with the Sea Eagles, the TGA-approved medical device aims to reduce immediate concussion symptoms by reducing the brain’s metabolic demand immediately after injury, enhancing recovery and minimising the risk of prolonged symptoms or a delayed recovery.
A panel of sports stars affected by concussion including Millie Elliot (NRLW), Ian Roberts (NRL), Michael Lipman (Rugby Union), Warren Spink (Football), Shaun Smith (AFL) and Manly centre Reuben Garrick, shared their experiences at today's launch.
A clinical study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma confirms the device’s significant positive effects on concussed professional athletes – especially in regard to reducing risk of long-term absence – based on results from a five-year study by Lund University in partnership with the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
PolarCap® by eo is a non-invasive, portable cooling system that supplies controlled circulating cold fluid through a headcap to accurately and reliably lower the exercise-induced elevated brain temperature of a concussed athlete. The athlete is treated with the device during the acute phase of injury – as soon as possible, ideally within 15 minutes of injury or diagnosis – for at least 45 minutes.
Physical activity can increase the body and brain temperature up to 40°C or more. At elevated temperatures, the brain’s energy demand (metabolism) increases. If a concussion is sustained when an athlete has raised brain temperature and consequently raised energy demand, it can lead to exacerbated brain injury and a higher risk of long-term complications. Therefore, quickly reducing brain temperature to a targeted range is key to recovery.
Dr Paul Bloomfield, Chief Medical Officer for the Sea Eagles and Medical Consultant for the Rugby League Players Association, conducted a trial of the technology for the past 18 months. Dr Bloomfield championed and innovated rugby league’s concussion protocols in his previous role as NRL Chief Medical Officer.
“I’ve been trialing PolarCap® by eo with my players at the Sea Eagles (NRL) for the past 18 months and one of the key benefits is the players are happy to use it because they feel the difference immediately after treatment,'' Dr Bloomfield said.
“PolarCap® by eo doesn’t mean we can bring players back before their mandatory 11-day stand-down, or before they have fully medically recovered, but we see the benefit of it reducing a prolonged stand-down that players can suffer because they continue to be symptomatic due to a delayed recovery or post-concussive syndrome.”
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick is one of several Manly players that have used the device for early concussion rehabilitation and recovery at the time of their injury.
“As players, we’re well aware of the risks involved in contact sport, but if there’s anything that will help us with concussion recovery, we’ll absolutely use it,'' Garrick said.
"I’ve noticed an improvement in how much better I feel after using PolarCap® by eo compared to before we had this treatment available.”
eo’s Principal Scientist, Dr Kenneth Graham, spoke at the launch at the Sea Eagles Centre of Excellence in Brookvale.
“The scientific principles and technology underpinning PolarCap® by eo have been in use for brain injury and neurosurgery for some time and are tried and tested,'' Dr Graham said.
"Clinical trials and rigorous testing show that these same principles can be applied effectively into a sporting context to improve athletes’ recovery.”
Having achieved all regulatory approvals for its use and following the successful trial with the Sea Eagles, eo is now briefing key medical advisors across all relevant sports codes to introduce the technology, which is available for immediate use.
PolarCap® by eo was originally developed by Swedish MedTech company BrainCool. BrainCool develops and manufactures medical equipment that uses targeted temperature management (therapeutic hypothermia) to carefully lower and maintain a patient’s body temperature for a specific period.
PolarCool was spun out of BrainCool in 2017 and is now the manufacturer of PolarCap® by eo. PolarCool’s mission is to enhance the safety of athletes by reducing the severity of head injuries through controlled cooling.
PolarCool currently provides PolarCap® to teams, athletes, and organisations across the European Union. PolarCool is led by former Swedish professional ice hockey player Erik Andersson, who joined PolarCool after retiring from the game prematurely due to concussion.
