The Jackson Force Absorption System prototype is tested using high-speed video camera. The videos are then reviewed for range of motion analysis. “The standard for sports equipment safety is a HSI of 1,000 or below. The prototype tested well below the safety threshold and seems to lower the HSI. The good news is that in early test results it appears the prototype doesn’t create a potential source injury for the wearer,” Jackson notes. He figures the project has cost about $95,000 for patenting, prototyping and testing so far. Most of that money has come out of his pocket. “I’ve been fortunate enough in my practice, so I can afford the testing and the manufacturing of the prototypes. Life University has become a partner and has 18 Canadian Chiropractor June 2017 offered to give financial support. In fact, they paid for the last tests. But I just don’t want to involve anybody else until I’m sure it’s a viable product.” Jackson isn’t working alone, though. He has a development team, including Dr. Kristen Willeumier, a Los Angeles-based neuroscientist who specializes in how the brain is affected by health, nutrition and the impact of concussions. She led a clinical research trial investigating the long-term effects of repetitive subconcussive impacts in NFL players. For Jack-son, she’s a consultant who reviews the test data and will help produce a manuscript for publication. Willeumier points out that more than a million children play football in the U.S. Many of those youngsters experience subconcussive impacts as they play. “You have kids who start out in peewee football and go through high school, college and their brain function is seem-ingly intact. But they might get a degenerative brain disease sooner than someone in the general population, and we’re seeing this with our professional athletes. “If we can reduce the subconcussive impacts by even 10 per cent, that could mean someone won’t get a degenerative disease or the symptoms of it.” Weighing in Dr. John Crawford says the system is a good step forward — but he does have a couple of caveats. Crawford is a chiro-practic sports sciences specialist at Shift Rehabilitation At Arbour in Guelph, Ont., and associate professor at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto. He believes the work Jackson is doing makes sense as far www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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