While some regard the FDA-authorised Q-Collar as a revolutionary brain injury prevention tool for athletes, some scientists are sceptical about its true efficacy. NR Times reports.  A growing number of professional athletes, mostly American football players, have been seen wearing a novel device around the neck. It is said to reduce the risk of head trauma in contact sports, but the device has stirred up controversy as sceptical scientists call into question the theories behind the technology. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2006 to 2014, the number of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalisations and deaths in the US increased by 53 per cent.  Over time, repeated knocks to the head - even those that do not cause a concussion - can lead to a serious condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).