Buy now

It all starts with data

Buy now
Contact us

ACT Head Impact Tracker.
Because you should know. Protect your assets.
#youshouldbeACTingonit

Protect your brain

ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensors

ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor is an integral part of ACT Head Impact Tracker, it is what measures forces acting on your head. There are two types of head sensors:

1. ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor
measures number, frequency and proximity of impacts and forces acting on a head. Magnitude measure is g-force (linear acceleration/deceleration) and Impact g-load (accumulation of g-forces).

2. ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor Pro
measures number, frequency and proximity of events when head rapidly moves. Magnitude measures are g-force (linear acceleration/deceleration), Impact g-load, (accumulation of g-forces), angular acceleration (rad/s2), angular velocity (rad/s) and accumulation of angular acceleration and velocity.

Head sensors can be attached to almost any kind of head accessory or wear: variety of hairbands, headbands and helmets. Choose what to use, or buy one of ACT Head Impact Tracker accessories specifically designed for it in our web store. Whatever your head wear, gear or accessory of attachment, ensure the sensor is firmly attached and cannot move by itself. Nor should anything (like helmet) move so that it will tap on the sensor. The head sensor must stay put and not get knocks or impacts to itself to give best possible quality measurement.

Please note that the head sensor measures what is it attached to. We recommend attaching ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor to your head with a tight-fitting head accessory (like headband) also when using with a helmet. If you attach sensor on a helmet, the magnitude measurement accuracy might be compromised: the helmet or its straps may move on their own, and in a case of an impact the forces acting on a helmet are usually higher in magnitude to those acting on your head inside the helmet.

WARNING! Place the head sensor only in a location where impacts, bumps, knocks or pressure do not occur.
WARNING! ACT Head Impact Tracker products or services are not protective devices. They do not prevent incidents from happening and they do not protect against injuries or any kind. Disclaimer: ACT Head Impact Tracker is a measuring device. ACT Head Impact Tracker products or services are not medical devices and do not provide medical advice, any kind of diagnostics or treatment suggestions for any health problem. ACT Head Impact Tracker products or services, any content or information therein, is not to be used in place of consultation of licensed medical professional. In case of violent forces acting on a head, a head impact, or when suspecting one or a concussion, immediately and safely leave the activity and seek help from licensed medical professionals. It is advisable to have an accompanying person if concussion is possible. In case of an emergency, call an ambulance. If you have been given medical advice by a licensed medical professional, always follow that advice despite any information or content in or from ACT Head Impact Tracker. Northern Sports Insight and Intelligence Oy or ACT Head Impact Tracker products or services are not health care specialists, and neither is communication between you and us or ACT Head Impact Tracker forming any kind of doctor – patient relationship.

ACT Head Impact Tracker smartphone mobile App

ACT Head Impact Tracker smartphone mobile App is required to operate ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor and ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor Pro, and to communicate with the Cloud. With the App you can create and manage User Account(s) and Profile(s), add an ACT Head Impact Tracker sensor(s) on your Profile(s) and operate it, view and receive information on the events, and share your Profile(s) Impact information with other Users. Use App for tracking the events on the sidelines!

ACT Head Impact Tracker smartphone mobile App can be downloaded for free. The basic features are free to use, but the App will later also contain in-App purchases when new additional services, features and functionalities are made available for subscription. Compatibility with all smartphone brands and models cannot be guaranteed. Please see more information in our Help in www.act-tracker.com ACT Head Impact Tracker mobile App is free to download in App Store and Google Play Store on smart phones with Android 10 or newer operating system.

IMPORTANT USAGE INFORMATION! When you have downloaded the App on your mobile device, your ACT Head Impact Tracker App is part of the system where information flow from the head sensors to the cloud takes place. Use of mobile data on your mobile device with the application may occur at any time when ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensors are used in Bluetooth® Wireless connection’s reach. If you do not want to be part of the system, close ACT Head Impact Tracker App and turn off Bluetooth® Wireless connection or mobile data connection in your mobile device. To stop the passive scanning: switch off ACT Head Impact Tracker App, turn off Bluetooth, turn off wifi or mobile data for ACT App or entirely, or turn on flight mode.

Note regarding iPhones:
Please note that when asked, you have to give your mobile phone permission to connect to new Bluetooth devices to listen ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensors. ACT iOS App is using active scanning as default, to turn the scanning off: close ACT Head Impact Tracker App, switch off Bluetooth, turn off wifi or mobile data for ACT App or entirely, or switch on the flight mode in your mobile device.

Note regarding Android phones:
Please note that you will need to give App the permission to use your “location" and “specific location” (if applicable) needs to be on. Please check in Settings > App > ACT Head Impact Tracker > Permissions > Location > Specific location. Also permission for “Nearby devices” is needed.
We always recommend to use “Active scanning” when listening to the sensors. Depending on your mobile device, you might need to always use Active scanning to connect with the sensors. Active Scan works like this:
1.) Click “Menu” (3 bars on the left upper hand corner) > Click “Start active scan” > text turns to say “Stop active scan” = Active scanning is on until you switch it off. Stop Active scanning by clicking on text “Stop active scan”.
2.) When the text says “Start active scan” = Active scanning is off.
3.) If needed, always use active scanning when you want to connect to the sensors.
4.) If Active Scan is on, but event information is not received, try switching Active scanning off and turning it back on again.

Setting up ACT Head Impact Tracker App in your mobile phone


1. Give ACT Head Impact Tracker App permissions in your phone as follows: 

ANDROID phones
a.) Give ACT App permission to use “Bluetooth” and “Location"
b.) Give ACT App permission to use “Specific Location” if applicable. “Specific location” can be found for example in “General Settings” >Applications > ACT Head Impact Tracker > Permissions > Location > If you find here “Use specific location”, it must be on and active. 
c.) Give App permission to use “Nearby devices” when applicable. 
d.) If it is not possible to use always with Wi-Fi, please ensure ACT App has permission to use mobile data. 

iPHONES

a.) Give ACT App permission to use “Bluetooth” and “Location”. 
b.) Give your phone’s Bluetooth® permission to connect to new devices”. When your phone is asking this in ACT App > give permission. You can check the permission status in “general settings” > Applications > ACT > Bluetooth permission ( or “allow ACT to access”) is active and on. 
c.) If you want to receive ACT’s notifications on the events ensure you have given ACT app the permission to send notifications. “Allow notifications” should be active and on. 
d.) If it is not possible to use always with Wi-Fi, please ensure ACT App has permission to use mobile data. 

2.
Always when you want to connect and listen to the sensors, ensure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi (LAN), or you have mobile data available. Ensure ACT App has permission to use mobile data. 

3.
Note regarding iPhones: 
ACT iOS App is using active scanning as default, to turn the scanning off: close ACT Head Impact Tracker App, switch off Bluetooth, turn off wifi or mobile data for ACT App or entirely, or switch on the flight mode in your mobile device. 

4.
Note regarding Android phones: 
We always recommend to use “Active scanning” when listening to the sensors. Depending on your mobile device, you might need to always use Active scanning to connect with the sensors. Active Scan works like this: 
1.) Click “Menu” (3 bars on the left upper hand corner) > Click “Start active scan” > text turns to say “Stop active scan” = Active scanning is on until you switch it off. Stop Active scanning by clicking on text “Stop active scan”. 
2.) When the text says “Start active scan” = Active scanning is off. 
3.) If needed, always use active scanning when you want to connect to the sensors. 
4.) If Active Scan is on, but event information is not received, try switching Active scanning off and turning it back on again. 

ACT Head Impact Tracker smartphone mobile App can be downloaded for free. The basic features are free to use, but the App will later also contain in-App purchases when new additional services, features and functionalities are made available for subscription. Compatibility with all smartphone brands and models cannot be guaranteed. Please see more information in our Help in www.act-tracker.com ACT Head Impact Tracker mobile App is free to download in App Store and Google Play Store on smart phones with Android 10 or newer operating system. 

IMPORTANT USAGE INFORMATION FOR ALL APP USERS!
When you have downloaded the App on your mobile device, your ACT Head Impact Tracker App is part of the system where information flow from the head sensors to the cloud takes place. Use of mobile data on your mobile device with the application may occur at any time when ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensors are used in Bluetooth® Wireless connection’s reach. If you do not want to be part of the system, close ACT Head Impact Tracker App and turn off Bluetooth® Wireless connection or mobile data connection in your mobile device. To stop the passive scanning: switch off ACT Head Impact Tracker App, turn off Bluetooth, turn off wifi or mobile data for ACT App or entirely, or turn on flight mode.

Android mobile App
iOS mobile App

ACT Head Impact Tracker Browser Access

You can access your user account, get all the data collected, Build and manage Teams in Team Dashboard, establish seasons and sessions in Team Dashboard (it can also be used in individual sports!) and much more in ACT Head Impact Tracker Browser Access. There are two levels in Browser Access: Web User Interface and Team Dashboard. Access your user account and data when ever you need, on any device via browser access in https://dashboard.act-tracker.com/
Use Browser Access for data crunching!

Web User Interface

In Web User Interface, you get lots of detailed data and measurements in numerical format and as graphical illustrations. There is much more of everything than what is featuring in the App: data, features and actions. You can for example mark false positive events (like those occurred in transportation, handling and other) as faulty impacts, and add notes to events. Browse the data with your smartphone, tablet or computer, and use Export tool to import your impact data to most common spreadsheets (such as Excel or Numbers) in Web User Interface.

Team Dashboard

Team Dashboard is statistics and light analytics tool for coaches, trainers, teams and clubs. Its Beta1 pilot test version is now out for all our users to test use. Activate and use Team Dashboard to track and get statistics and light analytics on both team’s and individual athletes’ total (cumulative) events data per session and season to date. Create a team (can also be use for individual athletes!) > add athletes to the team > create a season > add sessions to monitor team’s and individual athletes’ physical brain load and athletes’ comparisons on number of events, highest g-force and rad/s2 magnitudes measured. Utilising Quick start Sessions in Team Dashboard will help you to eliminate the false positives from before and after the practises and games and those from the breaks and half times in the games. This will greatly improve the accuracy of the brain load measurement.

What people say

Sports and being physically active is very important, but we have to take better care of brain health and safety. Rapid head movements cause brain to move, squeeze and twist inside the skull which may cause damage to the brain. When we bring these forces acting on a head visible by objectively measuring and giving numerical values to them, forces can be more effectively managed and hence enables improving health and wellbeing of athletes.
Sini Skogberg
Sini Skogberg MD, pediatric neurologist, mother of two
ACT head sensors and App are easy to use, but in some ice-hockey arena environments the transfer of data from the sensors to the App are not going as smoothly as it should. Players' 1st impression for the sensors was mixed, some were very interested in the data it provides, and some maybe not so much. But very fast the players got used to using sensors and even remembered to put it on 😉 Next season I hope we can find solution to the data transfer challenges in our arena to be able to fully utilise the near-real-time data on the events.
Elise Heikkilä
Elise Heikkilä certified sports physiotherapist, entrepreneur, ex ice-hockey player

athletic trainer / physical trainer of Ilves Naiset Liiga, a team in Aurora Liiga Finnish women's elite ice-hockey league


What is the measurement data and what does it tell you?

Rule of thumb: the larger the magnitude, the bigger the chance damage occurs.

g-force, linear acceleration/deceleration

Regarding individual and infrequent events, in many studies acceleration/deceleration under 40g have been considered likely not to cause permanent damage, but it can be extrapolated that the probability of permanent damage starts to increase in impacts within the range of 40-60g and higher. Some research studies on adult male athletes have suggested that exceeding 70-100g or more, is associated with an increased risk of concussion. Other studies that adult women the concussive threshold could be around 55g

It is critical to note, that these thresholds are not universally agreed upon within the medical and scientific communities and concussive thresholds can vary depending on multiple factors (such as age, gender, impact history, brain injury history, and many more). These thresholds mentioned above should not be used as general guidance.


Rad/s2 and rad/s, angular acceleration and velocity 
(only in ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor Pro) In the context of brain traumas, rad/s2 and rad/s can be used to quantify the rotational forces experienced by the brain during an injury event. Rotational motion can lead to diffuse axonal injury, which is a common type of injury associated with brain trauma. At the moment there is no specific universally accepted threshold of rad/s that could definitively diagnose a concussion, or permanent brain damage. 

Impact g-load
(not available in Android App) 
The relationship between the magnitude and duration of linear acceleration/deceleration and the risk of sustaining a concussion is one part of a complex picture. The biomechanics of brain injury are multifaceted. At the moment there is no specific universally accepted threshold of Impact g-load (AUC) that could definitively diagnose a concussion, or permanent brain damage. 


WARNING! The above thresholds are not to be used as general guidance. Precautionary principle should apply. Brain injuries can result from a combination of forces and factors, including linear and angular forces, duration of the impact and many more. Threshold foran injury vary significantly among individuals.


IF YOU ATTACH SENSOR TO THE HELMET, please notice that sensor measures what it is attached to. The forces measured from the helmet are very likely higher than those acting on your head inside the helmet. How much higher depends on multiple factors like helmet type, the fit of your helmet, how old your helmet is, and which part of the helmet the forces act on. If you have 2 sensors at your disposal, you can approximate the conversion rate for the helmet you are using by attaching one sensor on the head with a headband and one in the helmet and wear it like that for few practices. Compare the data collected by the sensors, divide the helmet measurement with that of measurement on a head in each impact and calculate the a very approximated conversion rate.


Rule of thumb: the higher the number of events when impacts and forces act on a head, the bigger the chance the damage occurs.

Repeated events on a head, even those low in magnitude and in the absence of diagnosed concussions (so-called subconcussive events), may lead to subtle and cumulative brain changes, brain diseases and injuries. Such changes may include alterations in brain structure and function, and the accumulation of abnormal protein deposits like tau, which is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Repeated events on a head may also lead to subtle cognitive changes that can affect attention, memory, and other cognitive functions, and they may not become apparent until later in life.

Rule of thumb: the more frequent and closer in proximity, the bigger the chance the damage occurs.

Frequency of events when head rapidly moves is a significant factor in assessing the risk of brain injuries and diseases. Cumulative exposure to events, both concussive and subconcussive events, can have long-term consequences on brain health. Reducing the frequency of events and implementing protective measures are important steps in mitigating these risks. Long-term monitoring of individuals who are at risk of frequent events, such as athletes or individuals in high-risk professions, is essential. In contact sports, athletes may experience multiple events in close proximity during a single game or practice session. This close succession of events can contribute to the overall risk of brain injury.

Why you should choose ACT Head Impact Tracker?

Universal

ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor can be used in virtually any sport on a dry land.



Versatile
ACT Head Impact Tracker head sensor can be attached with hook&loop (Velcro) tape to wide variety of head gear and wear, helmets and head bands. You can also buy ACT Head Impact Tracker accessories in our webstore.
Inclusive
For team sports and individual sports, to track one athlete or a team of athletes, for juniors and seniors, professional and recreational levels, men, women, boys, girls and anything in between.
Easy to use

Download the App, create user account and profile(s), add head sensors to the profile(s) and off you go


Compact
Head sensor’s dimensions are: 46,70mm x 34,40mm x 7,60mm
Affordable
No need for extra gadgets such as large team charging units, dedicated hand held or sideline devices. No monthly fees for services you don’t need or want to use