Finite element modelling of equestrian helmet impacts exposes the need to address rotational kinematics in future helmet designs

Jockey head injuries, especially concussions, are common in horse racing. Current helmets do help to reduce the severity and incidences of head injury, but the high concussion incidence rates suggest that there may be scope to improve the performance of equestrian helmets. Finite element simulations...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering 2011-12, Vol.14 (12), p.1021-1031
Main Authors: Forero Rueda, M. A., Cui, L., Gilchrist, M. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Animals
Athletic Injuries - etiology
Athletic Injuries - physiopathology
Athletic Injuries - prevention & control
Brain Injuries - etiology
Brain Injuries - physiopathology
Brain Injuries - prevention & control
Computer Simulation
Computer-Aided Design
concussion
Craniocerebral Trauma - etiology
Craniocerebral Trauma - physiopathology
Craniocerebral Trauma - prevention & control
Equipment Design
Finite Element Analysis
head impact
Head Protective Devices
horse racing
Horses
Humans
Models, Biological
Rotation
Sports Equipment
sports helmets
Stress, Mechanical
Torque
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - etiology
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - physiopathology
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - prevention & control
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Jockey head injuries, especially concussions, are common in horse racing. Current helmets do help to reduce the severity and incidences of head injury, but the high concussion incidence rates suggest that there may be scope to improve the performance of equestrian helmets. Finite element simulations in ABAQUS/Explicit were used to model a realistic helmet model during standard helmeted rigid headform impacts and helmeted head model University College Dublin Brain Trauma Model (UCDBTM) impacts. Current helmet standards for impact determine helmet performance based solely on linear acceleration. Brain injury-related values (stress and strain) from the UCDBTM showed that a performance improvement based on linear acceleration does not imply the same improvement in head injury-related brain tissue loads. It is recommended that angular kinematics be considered in future equestrian helmet standards, as angular acceleration was seen to correlate with stress and strain in the brain.
ISSN:1025-5842
1476-8259
DOI:10.1080/10255842.2010.504922