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Brooks JS, Dickey JP. Effect of Repetitive Head Impacts on Saccade Performance in Canadian University Football Players. Clin J Sport Med 2024; 34:280-287. [PMID: 38150378 PMCID: PMC11042529 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate the effect of cumulative head impacts on saccade latency and errors, measured across two successive football seasons. DESIGN Participants were acquired from a sample of convenience-one Canadian university football team. Head impacts were collected during training camp, practices, eight regular season games, and four playoff games in each season. Saccade measurements were collected at five time points-before and after training camp, at midseason, after regular season, and after playoffs. SETTING Two seasons following players from a single USports football team during practices and games. PARTICIPANTS Players who completed a baseline saccade measurement and a minimum of one follow-up measurement were included in the study. A total of 127 players were monitored across two competitive seasons, including 61 players who participated in both seasons. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES Head impact measurements were collected using helmet-mounted sensors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Saccade latency and number of errors were measured using high-speed video or electro-oculography. RESULTS On average, each head impact increased prosaccade latency by 5.16 × 10 -3 ms (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.26 × 10 -4 -1.00 × 10 -2 , P = 0.03) and antisaccade latency by 5.74 × 10 -3 ms (95% CI, 7.18 × 10 -4 -1.06 × 10 -2 , P = 0.02). These latency increases did not decrease between the two seasons; in fact, prosaccade latencies were 23.20 ms longer (95% CI, 19.40-27.14, P < 0.001) at the second season's baseline measurement than the first. The number of saccade errors was not affected by cumulative head impacts. CONCLUSIONS Repetitive head impacts in Canadian university football result in cumulative declines in brain function as measured by saccade performance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Football organizations should consider implementing policies focused on reducing head impacts to improve player safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Brooks
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada; and
| | - James P. Dickey
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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2
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Sinnott AM, Chandler MC, Van Dyke C, Mincberg DL, Pinapaka H, Lauck BJ, Mihalik JP. Efficacy of Guardian Cap Soft-Shell Padding on Head Impact Kinematics in American Football: Pilot Findings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6991. [PMID: 37947549 PMCID: PMC10650906 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20216991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Sport-related concussion prevention strategies in collision sports are a primary interest for sporting organizations and policy makers. After-market soft-shell padding purports to augment the protective capabilities of standard football helmets and to reduce head impact severity. We compared head impact kinematics [peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational acceleration (PRA)] in athletes wearing Guardian Cap soft-shell padding to teammates without soft-shell padding. Ten Division I college football players were enrolled [soft-shell padding (SHELL) included four defensive linemen and one tight end; non-soft-shell (CONTROL) included two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, and one tight end]. Participants wore helmets equipped with the Head Impact Telemetry System to quantify PLA (g) and PRA (rad/s2) during 14 practices. Two-way ANOVAs were conducted to compare log-transformed PLA and PRA between groups across helmet location and gameplay characteristics. In total, 968 video-confirmed head impacts between SHELL (n = 421) and CONTROL (n = 547) were analyzed. We observed a Group x Stance interaction for PRA (F1,963 = 7.21; p = 0.007) indicating greater PRA by SHELL during 2-point stance and lower PRA during 3- or 4-point stances compared to CONTROL. There were no between-group main effects. Protective soft-shell padding did not reduce head impact kinematic outcomes among college football athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Sinnott
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
| | - Madison C. Chandler
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
| | - Charles Van Dyke
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
| | - David L. Mincberg
- Campus Health Services, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hari Pinapaka
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
| | - Bradley J. Lauck
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
| | - Jason P. Mihalik
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.M.S.); (H.P.)
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McIver KG, Lee P, Bucherl S, Talavage TM, Myer GD, Nauman EA. Design Considerations for the Attenuation of Translational and Rotational Accelerations in American Football Helmets. J Biomech Eng 2023; 145:061008. [PMID: 36628996 PMCID: PMC10782865 DOI: 10.1115/1.4056653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Participants in American football experience repetitive head impacts that induce negative changes in neurocognitive function over the course of a single season. This study aimed to quantify the transfer function connecting the force input to the measured output acceleration of the helmet system to provide a comparison of the impact attenuation of various modern American football helmets. Impact mitigation varied considerably between helmet models and with location for each helmet model. The current data indicate that helmet mass is a key variable driving force attenuation, however flexible helmet shells, helmet shell cutouts, and more compliant padding can improve energy absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin G. McIver
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Patrick Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Sean Bucherl
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Thomas M. Talavage
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Gregory D. Myer
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA 30542; Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA 30329; Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329; The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA 02452
| | - Eric A. Nauman
- Dane A. and Mary Louise Miller Professor Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, 2901 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221
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4
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Marks ME, Holcomb TD, Pritchard NS, Miller LE, Espeland MA, Miles CM, Moore JB, Foley KL, Stitzel JD, Urban JE. Characterizing Exposure to Head Acceleration Events in Youth Football Using an Instrumented Mouthpiece. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1620-1632. [PMID: 36274103 PMCID: PMC9815159 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03097-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding characteristics of head acceleration events (HAEs) in youth football is vital in developing strategies to improve athlete safety. This study aimed to characterize HAEs in youth football using an instrumented mouthpiece. Youth football athletes (ages 11-13) participating on two teams were enrolled in this study for one season. Each athlete was instrumented with a mouthpiece-based sensor throughout the season. HAEs were verified on film to ensure that mouthpiece-based sensors triggered during contact. The number of HAEs, peak resultant linear and rotational accelerations, and peak resultant rotational velocity were quantified. Mixed effects models were used to evaluate differences in mean kinematic metrics among all HAEs for session type, athlete position, and contact surface. A total of 5,292 HAEs were collected and evaluated from 30 athletes. The median (95th percentile) peak resultant linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, and rotational velocity was 9.5 g (27.0 g), 666.4 rad s-2 (1863.3 rad s-2), and 8.5 rad s-1 (17.4 rad s-1), respectively. Athletes experienced six (22) HAEs per athlete per session (i.e., practice, game). Competition had a significantly higher mean number of HAEs per athlete per session and mean peak rotational acceleration. Peak resultant rotational kinematics varied significantly among athlete positions. Direct head impacts had higher mean kinematics compared to indirect HAEs, from body collisions. The results of this study demonstrate that session type, athlete position, and contact surface (i.e., direct, indirect) may influence HAE exposure in youth football.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison E Marks
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ty D Holcomb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - N Stewart Pritchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Logan E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Mark A Espeland
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher M Miles
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Justin B Moore
- Department of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kristie L Foley
- Department of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Joel D Stitzel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jillian E Urban
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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5
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Vike NL, Bari S, Susnjar A, Lee T, Lycke RJ, Auger J, Music J, Nauman E, Talavage TM, Rispoli J. American football position-specific neurometabolic changes in high school athletes - a magnetic resonance spectroscopic study. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:1168-1182. [PMID: 35414265 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports estimate between 1.6-3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually, with 30% occurring in youth male American football athletes. Many studies report neurophysiological changes in these athletes, but the exact reasons for these changes remain elusive. Investigation of injury mechanics highlights a need to address how player position might impact these changes. Here, 55 high school American football athletes (20 linemen; 35 non-linemen) underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy four times over the course of a football season (once prior to the season (Pre), twice during (In1, In2), and once following (Post)) to quantify metabolites (N-acetyl aspartate, choline, creatine, myo-inositol, and glutamate/glutamine) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and primary motor cortex (M1). Head acceleration events (HAEs) were monitored at each practice and game. Spectroscopic and HAE data were analyzed by imaging session and player position. Linear regression analyses were conducted between metabolite levels and HAEs, and metabolite levels in football athletes were compared to age-and gender-matched non-contact athletes. Across-season (i.e., between Pre and In1, In2, Post), different DLPFC and M1 metabolites decreased (p<0.05) according to player position (i.e., linemen vs. non-linemen). The majority of regression results involved DLPFC metabolites in linemen, where metabolite levels were higher, from Pre to Post, with increasing HAE load. Comparisons with control athletes revealed higher metabolite levels in football athletes both before and after the season. This study highlights the importance of player position when conducting analyses on American football athletes and demonstrates elevated DLPFC and M1 brain metabolites in football athletes compared to control athletes at both Pre and Post, suggesting potential HAE-related neurocompensatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Vike
- Northwestern University, 3270, Chicago, Illinois, United States.,Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Sumra Bari
- Northwestern University, 3270, Chicago, Illinois, United States.,Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Antonia Susnjar
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Taylor Lee
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Roy J Lycke
- Purdue University, 311308, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Joshua Auger
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Jacob Music
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Eric Nauman
- Purdue University, School of Mechanical Engineering, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,University of Cincinnati, 2514, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States;
| | - Thomas M Talavage
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,University of Cincinnati, 2514, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States;
| | - Joseph Rispoli
- Purdue University, 311308, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
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6
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Vike NL, Bari S, Stetsiv K, Talavage TM, Nauman EA, Papa L, Slobounov S, Breiter HC, Cornelis MC. Metabolomic response to collegiate football participation: Pre- and Post-season analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3091. [PMID: 35197541 PMCID: PMC8866500 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07079-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Contact sports participation has been shown to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on health, however little is known about the metabolic sequelae of these effects. We aimed to identify metabolite alterations across a collegiate American football season. Serum was collected from 23 male collegiate football athletes before the athletic season (Pre) and after the last game (Post). Samples underwent nontargeted metabolomic profiling and 1131 metabolites were included for univariate, pathway enrichment, and multivariate analyses. Significant metabolites were assessed against head acceleration events (HAEs). 200 metabolites changed from Pre to Post (P < 0.05 and Q < 0.05); 160 had known identity and mapped to one of 57 pre-defined biological pathways. There was significant enrichment of metabolites belonging to five pathways (P < 0.05): xanthine, fatty acid (acyl choline), medium chain fatty acid, primary bile acid, and glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism. A set of 12 metabolites was sufficient to discriminate Pre from Post status, and changes in 64 of the 200 metabolites were also associated with HAEs (P < 0.05). In summary, the identified metabolites, and candidate pathways, argue there are metabolic consequences of both physical training and head impacts with football participation. These findings additionally identify a potential set of objective biomarkers of repetitive head injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Vike
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sumra Bari
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Khrystyna Stetsiv
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas M Talavage
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Eric A Nauman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Linda Papa
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Semyon Slobounov
- Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Hans C Breiter
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marilyn C Cornelis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Vike NL, Bari S, Stetsiv K, Walter A, Newman S, Kawata K, Bazarian JJ, Martinovich Z, Nauman EA, Talavage TM, Papa L, Slobounov SM, Breiter HC. A preliminary model of football-related neural stress that integrates metabolomics with transcriptomics and virtual reality. iScience 2022; 25:103483. [PMID: 35106455 PMCID: PMC8786649 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Research suggests contact sports affect neurological health. This study used permutation-based mediation statistics to integrate measures of metabolomics, neuroinflammatory miRNAs, and virtual reality (VR)-based motor control to investigate multi-scale relationships across a season of collegiate American football. Fourteen significant mediations (six pre-season, eight across-season) were observed where metabolites always mediated the statistical relationship between miRNAs and VR-based motor control (pSobelperm≤ 0.05; total effect > 50%), suggesting a hypothesis that metabolites sit in the statistical pathway between transcriptome and behavior. Three results further supported a model of chronic neuroinflammation, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction: (1) Mediating metabolites were consistently medium-to-long chain fatty acids, (2) tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites decreased across-season, and (3) accumulated head acceleration events statistically moderated pre-season metabolite levels to directionally model post-season metabolite levels. These preliminary findings implicate potential mitochondrial dysfunction and highlight probable peripheral blood biomarkers underlying repetitive head impacts in otherwise healthy collegiate football athletes. Permutation-based mediation statistics can be applied to multi-scale biology problems Fatty acids were a critical link between elevated miRNAs and motor control HAEs interacted with pre-season metabolite levels to model post-season levels Together, our observations point to brain-related mitochondrial dysfunction
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Vike
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Sumra Bari
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Khrystyna Stetsiv
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alexa Walter
- Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Sharlene Newman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Keisuke Kawata
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Bazarian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Zoran Martinovich
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eric A Nauman
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.,School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Thomas M Talavage
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.,School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Linda Papa
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL 32806, USA
| | - Semyon M Slobounov
- Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Hans C Breiter
- Warren Wright Adolescent Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.,Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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8
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Career Head Impact Exposure Profile of Canadian University Football Players. J Appl Biomech 2022; 38:47-57. [PMID: 35045388 DOI: 10.1123/jab.2020-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study quantified head impact exposures for Canadian university football players over their varsity career. Participants included 63 players from one team that participated in a minimum of 3 seasons between 2013 and 2018. A total of 127,192 head impacts were recorded from 258 practices and 65 games. The mean (SD) number of career impacts across all positions was 2023.1 (1296.4), with an average of 37.1 (20.3) impacts per game and 7.4 (4.4) impacts per practice. The number of head impacts that players experienced during their careers increased proportionally to the number of athletic exposures (P < .001, r = .57). Linebackers and defensive and offensive linemen experienced significantly more head impacts than defensive backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers (P ≤ .014). Seniority did not significantly affect the number of head impacts a player experienced. Mean linear acceleration increased with years of seniority within defensive backs and offensive linemen (P ≤ .01). Rotational velocity increased with years of seniority within defensive backs, defensive and offensive linemen, running backs, and wide receivers (P < .05). These data characterize career metrics of head impact exposure for Canadian university football players and provide insights to reduce head impacts through rule modifications and contact regulations.
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9
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Rowson B, Duma SM. A Review of On-Field Investigations into the Biomechanics of Concussion in Football and Translation to Head Injury Mitigation Strategies. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 48:2734-2750. [PMID: 33200263 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02684-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This review paper summarizes the scientific advancements in the field of concussion biomechanics in American football throughout the past five decades. The focus is on-field biomechanical data collection, and the translation of that data to injury metrics and helmet evaluation. On-field data has been collected with video analysis for laboratory reconstructions or wearable head impact sensors. Concussion biomechanics have been studied across all levels of play, from youth to professional, which has allowed for comparison of head impact exposure and injury tolerance between different age groups. In general, head impact exposure and injury tolerance increase with increasing age. Average values for concussive head impact kinematics are lower for youth players in both linear and rotational acceleration. Head impact data from concussive and non-concussive events have been used to develop injury metrics and risk functions for use in protective equipment evaluation. These risk functions have been used to evaluate helmet performance for each level of play, showing substantial differences in the ability of different helmet models to reduce concussion risk. New advances in head impact sensor technology allow for biomechanical measurements in helmeted and non-helmeted sports for a more complete understanding of concussion tolerance in different demographics. These sensors along with advances in finite element modeling will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of injury and human tolerance to head impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Rowson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Stefan M Duma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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10
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Nauman EA, Talavage TM, Auerbach PS. Mitigating the Consequences of Subconcussive Head Injuries. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2020; 22:387-407. [PMID: 32348156 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-091219-053447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Subconcussive head injury represents a pathophysiology that spans the expertise of both clinical neurology and biomechanical engineering. From both viewpoints, the terms injury and damage, presented without qualifiers, are synonymously taken to mean a tissue alteration that may be recoverable. For clinicians, concussion is evolving from a purely clinical diagnosis to one that requires objective measurement, to be achieved by biomedical engineers. Subconcussive injury is defined as subclinical pathophysiology in which underlying cellular- or tissue-level damage (here, to the brain) is not severe enough to present readily observable symptoms. Our concern is not whether an individual has a (clinically diagnosed) concussion, but rather, how much accumulative damage an individual can tolerate before they will experience long-term deficit(s) in neurological health. This concern leads us to look for the history of damage-inducing events, while evaluating multiple approaches for avoiding injury through reduction or prevention of the associated mechanically induced damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Nauman
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA; .,School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Thomas M Talavage
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA; .,School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Paul S Auerbach
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
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