Rotational Head Kinematics in Football Impacts: An Injury Risk Function for Concussion

• DOI: 10.1007/s10439-011-0392-4
• Publication Date: 2011-10-19T14:15:06Z
• Authors: Steven Rowson; Stefan M. Duma; Jonathan G. Beckwith; Jeffrey J. Chu; Richard M. Greenwald; Joseph J. Crisco; P. Gunnar Brolinson; Ann-Christine Duh...; Thomas W. McAllister; Arthur C. Maerlender
• Keywords: Angular acceleration; Hybrid III; Biomechanics

Abstract Recent research has suggested a possible link between sports-related concussions and neurodegenerative processes, highlighting the importance of developing methods to accurately quantify head impact tolerance. The use kinematic parameters predict brain injury been because they are indicative inertial response brain. objective this study is characterize rotational kinematics associated with concussive impacts using large acceleration dataset collected from human subjects. helmets 335 football players were instrumented accelerometer arrays that measured following sustained during play, resulting in data for 300,977 sub-concussive 57 impacts. average had 1230 rad/s 2 velocity 5.5 rad/s, while 5022 22.3 rad/s. An risk curve was developed nominal value 6383 28.3 represents 50% concussion. These provide an increased understanding biomechanics concussion critical insight into mechanisms, tolerance mechanical stimuli, prevention techniques.