Rezon Halos, Rotational Forces, and Why the Science Around Brain Injury Is Changing

For many years, the conversation around concussion in sport focused almost entirely on whether a player was “knocked out” or diagnosed with a concussion.

But modern neuroscience is increasingly showing that the real picture is far more complex.

Researchers now understand that repetitive head impacts — including small-force sub-concussive impacts that do not cause a diagnosed concussion — may still lead to cumulative brain damage over time. Central to this discussion is something called rotational force.

What Are Rotational Forces?

When the head is struck during sport, the brain does not simply move forwards and backwards in a linear plane.

Instead, it often twists and rotates inside the skull.

This rotational movement creates shearing forces throughout the different density brain tissue, stretching and damaging neurons, blood vessels, and supporting structures. Researchers believe these rotational forces play a major role in traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, and long-term neurodegenerative diseases such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Importantly, many of these impacts are sub-concussive — meaning they do not cause symptoms at the time but still contribute to cumulative damage over months, years, and even decades.

Boston University researchers have repeatedly highlighted that the cumulative burden of repetitive head impacts may be more important than the number of diagnosed concussions alone, and more linked to CTE than the number of concussions.

Why This Matters So Much for Youth Sport

One of the biggest misconceptions around brain injury is that the greatest risk only exists at elite or professional level.

Emerging research suggests this may not be true.

Studies from the Boston University CTE Center have shown evidence of significant brain changes in young athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts, even before the development of full CTE pathology. (bumc.bu.edu)

In 2023, Boston University researchers examined the brains of young athletes under the age of 30 who had been exposed to repetitive head impacts. They found that over 40% showed evidence of CTE. (bumc.bu.edu)

More recent studies have also demonstrated neuron loss, inflammation, vascular injury, and white matter damage in young former athletes — changes linked to repeated head impacts rather than only diagnosed concussions. (bumc.bu.edu)

This is critically important because most athletes accumulate the largest volume of repetitive impacts during youth and amateur participation, often before professional pathways are even reached.

Many players begin contact sport during key periods of brain development aged 8-12 years.

Researchers have warned that repetitive head impacts during these years may increase long-term vulnerability to cognitive decline, mood disorders, and neurodegenerative disease later in life. (PubMed)

The Shift in Thinking: From Concussions to Brain Load

Traditionally, sport has focused on diagnosing and managing concussions after they happen.

But science is increasingly shifting toward the concept of total brain load — the cumulative exposure to repetitive impacts over time.

This includes:

• Diagnosed concussions
• Sub-concussive impacts
• Repeated heading or head collisions
• Rotational acceleration of the brain
• Years of exposure from childhood during training and matches

Researchers now believe reducing cumulative exposure to rotational forces may play an important role in reducing long-term neurological risk. (Axios)

This is where newer protective technologies such as the Rezon Halos enter the conversation.

What Is the Rezon Halo?

The Rezon Halos is a protective headband developed specifically to help reduce rotational force transmission to the brain during sporting impacts.

Unlike traditional headgear that primarily focuses on cushioning linear impacts, Rezon’s patented “Rotection®” system is designed around the science of rotational movement. (Rezon)

The technology uses multiple independent protective layers which move over one another during impact. According to Rezon, this movement helps reduce the transmission of rotational forces to the brain. (Rezon)

The goal is not to make players invincible or eliminate concussion — no current product can honestly claim that and likely no product will ever prevent concussion.

Instead, the concept is to reduce the rotational load/forces reaching the brain during repeated impacts.

Independent Testing and Virginia Tech Ratings

One of the reasons Rezon has attracted attention is because of independent testing using the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab methodology.

Virginia Tech is internationally recognised for its helmet and headgear testing systems and has become one of the most respected independent evaluators of sports head protection worldwide.

Independent testing using the Virginia Tech methodology demonstrated reductions in rotational force transmission of up to 61%, alongside a 5-star Virginia Tech rating. (Rezon)

While no headgear can fully prevent concussion or eliminate the risk of brain injury, technologies that meaningfully reduce rotational acceleration may potentially help reduce cumulative brain strain over time.

That possibility is important. And particularly in regard to children. We now know more from research about how the brain responds to rotational forces, than in the past; we know a child’s brain is more susceptible to these forces. What we don’t know is which child may have a genetic or metabolic risk factor, which child will continue to play sport at university/into adulthood and or as a professional, so given the damage of sub-concussions and rotational forces are cumulative, every child including is at risk of a massive lifetime dose, and bluntly their CTE and risk of neurodegenerative disease starts in childhood.

Why Open Scientific Discussion Matters

At Marshalling Brain Injuries Alliance, we believe the science around brain injury is still evolving — and that innovation, independent testing, and open discussion should be encouraged.

Too often, debates around concussion remain rooted in outdated ideas and personal missions that focus only on diagnosed concussions while ignoring repetitive sub-concussive impacts and cumulative brain load.

The emerging research from Boston University and other leading institutions is helping shift that conversation.

Reducing repetitive rotational forces may not completely eliminate risk, but it could become an important part of a wider brain health strategy that includes:

• Education
• Rule changes
• Reduced sub-concussion exposure
• Better brain health monitoring
• Improved and more specific concussion recovery protocols
• Safer training environments
• Innovation in protective technologies

A Balanced and Responsible Approach

It is important to state clearly that Marshalling Brain Injuries Alliance is not claiming that any device can prevent CTE or fully stop concussion.

More independent research is still needed across all sports and levels of participation.

However, we believe technologies designed specifically around reducing rotational forces deserve serious scientific attention — especially at a time when research increasingly points toward repetitive rotational brain trauma as a key driver of long-term neurological disease.

The conversation around brain injury in sport is changing.

And it needs to.

Rezon Halos® - Brain Protection Technology - Rezon