Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head
Aim To compare the available brands of rugby headguards and evaluate their impact attenuation properties at various locations on the cranium, with regard to concussion prevention.Methods Seven different branded headguards were fitted onto a rigid headform and drop-tested in three different positions...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2018-12-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000361.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850183949155827712 |
|---|---|
| author | Erin R A Frizzell Graham P Arnold Weijie Wang Rami J Abboud Tim S Drew |
| author_facet | Erin R A Frizzell Graham P Arnold Weijie Wang Rami J Abboud Tim S Drew |
| author_sort | Erin R A Frizzell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aim To compare the available brands of rugby headguards and evaluate their impact attenuation properties at various locations on the cranium, with regard to concussion prevention.Methods Seven different branded headguards were fitted onto a rigid headform and drop-tested in three different positions. An accelerometer measured the linear acceleration the headform experienced on impact with the ground. Each test involved dropping the headform from a height that generated 103.8 g on average when bare, which is the closest acceleration to the upper limit of the concussion threshold of 100 g. A mean peak acceleration for each drop position was calculated and compared with the bare baseline measurement.Results Each headguard demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean peak acceleration from the baseline value (all p≤0.01). Overall the Canterbury Ventilator was the most effective headguard, decreasing the impact force on average by 47%. The least effective was the XBlades Elite headguard, averaging a force reduction of 27%. In five of the seven headguards, the right side of the headwear was the most effective at reducing impact force.Conclusion Overall, the results indicate that it would be beneficial to wear a headguard during rugby in order to reduce the impact forces involved in head collisions. There was also a clear difference in performance between the tested brands, establishing the Canterbury headguard as the most effective. However, only one model of headguard from each brand was tested, so further research evaluating all other models should be considered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e45de1b33ebd47468c0a5f9b14aeac49 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-e45de1b33ebd47468c0a5f9b14aeac492025-08-20T02:17:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472018-12-014110.1136/bmjsem-2018-000361Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the headErin R A Frizzell0Graham P Arnold1Weijie Wang2Rami J Abboud3Tim S Drew4Institute of Motion Analysis Research (IMAR), Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, TORT Centre, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotlandnstitute of Motion Analysis & Research (IMAR), University of Dundee, Dundee, UK1 Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaDean`s Office, University of Balamand Faculty of Engineering, El-Koura, LebanonInstitute of Motion Analysis Research (IMAR), Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, TORT Centre, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, ScotlandAim To compare the available brands of rugby headguards and evaluate their impact attenuation properties at various locations on the cranium, with regard to concussion prevention.Methods Seven different branded headguards were fitted onto a rigid headform and drop-tested in three different positions. An accelerometer measured the linear acceleration the headform experienced on impact with the ground. Each test involved dropping the headform from a height that generated 103.8 g on average when bare, which is the closest acceleration to the upper limit of the concussion threshold of 100 g. A mean peak acceleration for each drop position was calculated and compared with the bare baseline measurement.Results Each headguard demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean peak acceleration from the baseline value (all p≤0.01). Overall the Canterbury Ventilator was the most effective headguard, decreasing the impact force on average by 47%. The least effective was the XBlades Elite headguard, averaging a force reduction of 27%. In five of the seven headguards, the right side of the headwear was the most effective at reducing impact force.Conclusion Overall, the results indicate that it would be beneficial to wear a headguard during rugby in order to reduce the impact forces involved in head collisions. There was also a clear difference in performance between the tested brands, establishing the Canterbury headguard as the most effective. However, only one model of headguard from each brand was tested, so further research evaluating all other models should be considered.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000361.full |
| spellingShingle | Erin R A Frizzell Graham P Arnold Weijie Wang Rami J Abboud Tim S Drew Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| title_full | Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| title_short | Comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| title_sort | comparison of branded rugby headguards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000361.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erinrafrizzell comparisonofbrandedrugbyheadguardsontheireffectivenessinreducingimpactonthehead AT grahamparnold comparisonofbrandedrugbyheadguardsontheireffectivenessinreducingimpactonthehead AT weijiewang comparisonofbrandedrugbyheadguardsontheireffectivenessinreducingimpactonthehead AT ramijabboud comparisonofbrandedrugbyheadguardsontheireffectivenessinreducingimpactonthehead AT timsdrew comparisonofbrandedrugbyheadguardsontheireffectivenessinreducingimpactonthehead |