Stitt Danyon, Kabaliuk Natalia, Alexander Keith, Draper Nick
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8041, New Zealand.
University of Canterbury, Sports Health and Rehabilitation Research Center (SHARRC), Christchurch, 8041, New Zealand.
Sports Med Open. 2024 Sep 27;10(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s40798-024-00744-2.
The growing concern for player safety in rugby has led to an increased focus on head impacts. Previous laboratory studies have shown that rugby headgear significantly reduces peak linear and rotational accelerations compared to no headgear. However, these metrics may have limited relevance in assessing the effectiveness of headgear in preventing strain-based brain injuries like concussions. This study used an instantaneous deep-learning brain injury model to quantify regional brain strain mitigation of rugby headgear during drop tests. Tests were conducted on flat and angled impact surfaces across different heights, using a Hybrid III headform and neck.
Headgear presence generally reduced the peak rotational velocities, with some headgear outperforming others. However, the effect on peak regional brain strains was less consistent. Of the 5 headgear tested, only the newer models that use open cell foams at densities above 45 kg/m consistently reduced the peak strain in the cerebrum, corpus callosum, and brainstem. The 3 conventional headgear that use closed cell foams at or below 45 kg/m showed no consistent reduction in the peak strain in the cerebrum, corpus callosum, and brainstem.
The presence of rugby headgear may be able to reduce the severity of head impact exposure during rugby. However, to understand how these findings relate to brain strain mitigation in the field, further investigation into the relationship between the impact conditions in this study and those encountered during actual gameplay is necessary.
对橄榄球运动员安全问题的日益关注导致人们更加重视头部撞击。此前的实验室研究表明，与不佩戴头盔相比，橄榄球头盔能显著降低峰值线性加速度和旋转加速度。然而，这些指标在评估头盔预防脑震荡等基于应变的脑损伤的有效性方面可能相关性有限。本研究使用即时深度学习脑损伤模型来量化橄榄球头盔在跌落测试期间对局部脑应变的减轻作用。测试使用混合III型头模和颈部，在不同高度的平坦和倾斜撞击表面上进行。
佩戴头盔通常会降低峰值旋转速度，有些头盔的表现优于其他头盔。然而，对峰值局部脑应变的影响则不太一致。在测试的5种头盔中，只有密度高于45 kg/m³且使用开孔泡沫的新型号头盔能持续降低大脑、胼胝体和脑干中的峰值应变。3种使用密度为45 kg/m³或更低的闭孔泡沫的传统头盔在大脑、胼胝体和脑干中的峰值应变方面并未表现出一致的降低。
橄榄球头盔的佩戴可能能够降低橄榄球比赛期间头部撞击暴露的严重程度。然而，为了了解这些发现与实际比赛中脑应变减轻之间的关系，有必要进一步研究本研究中的撞击条件与实际比赛中遇到的撞击条件之间的关系。
