The Influence of Neck Stiffness on Head Kinematics and Maximum Principal Strain Associated With Youth American Football Collisions

in Journal of Applied Biomechanics

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Janie Cournoyer University of Ottawa

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David Koncan University of Ottawa

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Michael D. Gilchrist University College Dublin

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T. Blaine Hoshizaki University of Ottawa

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2020-0070
Keywords:
neckform; brain injury; helmet testing
First Published Online:
08 Mar 2021
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 3
Page Range:
288–295
Restricted access

Understanding the relationship between head mass and neck stiffness during direct head impacts is especially concerning in youth sports where athletes have higher proportional head mass to neck strength. This study compared 2 neck stiffness conditions for peak linear and rotational acceleration and brain tissue deformations across 3 impact velocities, 3 impact locations, and 2 striking masses. A pendulum fitted with a nylon cap was used to impact a fifth percentile hybrid III headform equipped with 9 accelerometers and fitted with a youth American football helmet. The 2 neck stiffness conditions consisted of a neckform with and without resistance in 3 planes, representing the upper trapezius, the splenius capitis, and the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Increased neck stiffness resulted in significant changes in head kinematics and maximum principal strain specific to impact velocity, impact location, and striking mass.

Cournoyer, Koncan, and Hoshizaki are with the Neurotrauma Impact Science Laboratory, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Gilchrist is with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Cournoyer (jcournoy@uottawa.ca) is corresponding author.
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