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Annals of biomedical engineering2024; 52(11); 2916-2922; doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03507-y

Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports: Is Use Associated with Harm?

Abstract: Airbag vests (AV) are increasingly popular in equestrian sports. The efficacy of AV in protecting against serious injury has not been adequately analyzed, nor have product testing standards been established. This study provides an overview of current research to understand AV efficacy and future areas of improvement. A systematic review applying the PRISMA framework, NIH Study Quality Assessment, and CEBM Level of Evidence was conducted. Employing variations of "equestrian sport," "powered two-wheeled vehicle," "thoracic injury," "chest deflection," "airbag vest," and "safety vest," 18 articles were identified for data collection from three recognized research databases and citation searching. In laboratory settings, the ability of AV to protect against thoracic injuries was variable based on concurrent foam-based safety vest (SV) usage, impact speed, and impact mechanism. Studies that examined equestrian falls with AV found an association with increased injury rates and risk. SVs were shown to provide inconclusive efficacy in protecting against injuries in experimental and cohort studies. Protective capabilities depend on material, temperature, and impact mechanism. Further limiting use, equestrians reported not wearing, or incorrectly wearing SV due to unknown benefits, low comfort, and ill fit. In equestrian sports, based on published literature to date, AV have not been associated with a reduction in injury. AV appear to be associated with an increase in the risk of serious or fatal injuries in certain settings. However, research in this area is limited and future, large-scale studies should be conducted to further evaluate the efficacy of the air vests.
© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-02 PubMed ID: 38955889PubMed Central: PMC11511689DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03507-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Systematic Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This research article investigates whether airbag vests (AV) used in equestrian sports effectively protect riders from serious injuries or potentially cause harm.
  • The study systematically reviews existing research on AV efficacy, identifies factors influencing their protective abilities, and highlights areas needing further investigation.

Study Purpose and Background

  • Airbag vests have become increasingly popular as safety equipment in equestrian sports.
  • The protective effectiveness of these vests against serious injuries has not been rigorously assessed, and standardized testing protocols have not been established.
  • This review aims to consolidate current knowledge about airbag vest performance and safety implications.

Methodology

  • A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA framework for transparent and reproducible study selection.
  • Quality and reliability of studies were assessed using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tool and the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) Level of Evidence scale.
  • Keywords related to equestrian sports, injury types, and safety vests were used to search three major research databases and perform citation tracking.
  • A total of 18 relevant articles were included for data analysis.

Key Findings

  • Laboratory studies on AV showed mixed results regarding protection against chest (thoracic) injuries:
    • Effectiveness varies depending on whether a foam-based safety vest is worn underneath.
    • Protection depends on the speed and mechanism of impact.
  • Observational studies of real equestrian falls found that wearing AV was sometimes linked to higher injury rates and greater injury risk.
  • Foam-based safety vests (SV), without airbags, showed inconclusive evidence of injury prevention, with performance dependent on materials used, environmental temperature, and how the impact occurred.
  • Riders often reported low compliance with SV use due to:
    • Lack of confidence in the benefits
    • Discomfort
    • Poor fit

Conclusions and Implications

  • Current published evidence does not clearly demonstrate that airbag vests reduce injuries in equestrian sports.
  • Some data suggest AV might increase the risk of serious or fatal injuries in specific circumstances.
  • Research on AV use in equestrian sports is limited both in quantity and scale.
  • Future research should focus on larger, more comprehensive studies to:
    • Better clarify AV efficacy and safety.
    • Standardize testing methods and vest designs.
    • Identify ways to improve rider compliance by addressing comfort and usability.

Cite This Article

APA
Meyer C, Gabriel F, Schrum K, Hollis M, Short M, Gould S. (2024). Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports: Is Use Associated with Harm? Ann Biomed Eng, 52(11), 2916-2922. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-024-03507-y

Publication

Annals of biomedical engineering
ISSN: 1573-9686
NlmUniqueID: 0361512
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 11
Pages: 2916-2922

Researcher Affiliations

Meyer, Catherine
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Gabriel, Fernanda
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Schrum, Kevin
  • Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Hollis, Michele
  • CMO HollisMed LLC, Wellington, FL, USA.
Short, Margo
  • University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Gould, Sara
  • Birmingham Veterans Administration Health Care Service (VAHCS), Birmingham, AL, USA. sgould@uabmc.edu.
  • Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. sgould@uabmc.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Protective Clothing / statistics & numerical data
  • Sports
  • Thoracic Injuries / etiology
  • Thoracic Injuries / prevention & control

Conflict of Interest Statement

Sara Gould receives salary support for research from the Birmingham VA Healthcare System. The other authors do not have any disclosures or competing interests in regard to the contents of this manuscript.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Loder RT, Walker AL, Blakemore LC. Spinal Injuries from Equestrian Activity: A US Nationwide Study. J Clin Med 2025 Jun 26;14(13).
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