Proposed injury thresholds for concussion in equestrian sports.
Abstract: Equestrian helmets are designed to pass certification standards based on linear drop tests onto rigid steel surfaces. However, concussions in equestrian sports occur most commonly when a rider is thrown off a horse and obliquely impacts a compliant surface such as turf or sand. This paper seeks to elucidate the mechanics of such impacts and thereby propose corresponding thresholds for the occurrence of concussion that can improve equestrian helmet standards and designs. Methods: The present study examined the biomechanics of real-world equestrian accidents and developed thresholds for the occurrence of concussive injury. Methods: Twenty-five concussive and 25 non-concussive falls in equestrian sports were reconstructed using a combination of video analysis, computational and physical reconstruction methods. These represented male and female accidents from horse racing and the cross-country phase of eventing. Results: The resulting thresholds for concussion [59g, 2700rad/s, 28rad/s, 0.24 (MPS), 6.6kPa and 0.27 (CSMD) for 50% risk] were consistent with those reported in the literature and represent a unique combination of head kinematic thresholds compared to other sports. Current equestrian helmet standards commonly use a threshold of 250g and a linear drop to a steel anvil resulting in less than 15ms impacts. This investigation found that concussive equestrian accidents occurred from oblique impacts to turf or sand with lower magnitude and longer duration impacts (20ms). This suggests that current equestrian helmet standards may not adequately represent real-world concussive impact conditions and, consequently, there is an urgent need to assess the protective capacity of equestrian helmets under real-world conditions.
Copyright © 2019 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-10-16 PubMed ID: 31690492DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.10.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates the causes of concussions in equestrian sports by examining the dynamics of accidents and proposes new thresholds related to helmet design standards to reduce head injuries.
Research Background and Goals
- The research is instigated by the recognition that equestrian helmets, despite meeting certification standards, may not adequately protect riders from concussion.
- The goal is to understand the mechanics of impacts that typically cause concussions in equestrian accidents and then propose new injury thresholds that can inform better equestrian helmet designs and standards.
Methods
- A total of 50 equestrian falls, 25 of which resulted in concussions and 25 which did not, were reconstructed using video analysis, computational simulations and physical reconstruction methods.
- The accidents were taken from horse racing and the cross-country phase of eventing, involving both male and female participants.
Results
- Based on the study, the proposed injury thresholds for 50% risk of concussion were 59g, 2700rad/s, 28rad/s, 0.24 (MPS), 6.6kPa, and 0.27 (CSMD).
- These newly established thresholds are unique to equestrian sports when compared to other physical disciplines.
- Crucially, the study found that concussive accidents in equestrian sports primarily occur from oblique impacts to turf or sand, involving a lower impact force and a longer impact duration (<130g and >20ms) than currently considered in helmet standards.
Veering Away from Conventional Helmet Standards
- The current equestrian helmet standards typically consider a threshold of 250g and a linear drop to a steel anvil resulting in less than 15ms impacts.
- This study challenges this consideration and suggests that it may not adequately represent real-world concussive impact conditions in equestrian sports.
Conclusion
- This research fosters a crucial understanding that the current helmet design standards for equestrian sports may leave riders at risk of concussive injuries and emphasizes an urgent call for reassessment.
- The newly suggested thresholds based on real-world conditions should be taken into account to improve the protective capacity of equestrian helmets, ultimately leading to better rider safety in the sport.
Cite This Article
APA
Clark JM, Adanty K, Post A, Hoshizaki TB, Clissold J, McGoldrick A, Hill J, Annaidh AN, Gilchrist MD.
(2019).
Proposed injury thresholds for concussion in equestrian sports.
J Sci Med Sport, 23(3), 222-236.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.10.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin Belfield, Ireland.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Canada.
- St. Michael's Hospital, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Canada; School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin Belfield, Ireland.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Canada.
- British Eventing, United Kingdom.
- Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Ireland.
- British Horseracing Authority, United Kingdom.
- School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin Belfield, Ireland.
- School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin Belfield, Ireland; Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Canada. Electronic address: michael.gilchrist@ucd.ie.
MeSH Terms
- Acceleration
- Accidental Falls
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / diagnosis
- Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Brain Concussion / diagnosis
- Brain Concussion / prevention & control
- Female
- Head Protective Devices / standards
- Horses
- Humans
- Ireland
- Male
- Sports
- Sports Equipment / standards
- United Kingdom
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Franzén Lindgren E, Hammarqvist F, Ahl Hulme R. Horse-riding hazards: an observational cohort study mapping equestrian related injuries at a Scandinavian trauma centre.. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2023 Mar 28;15(1):46.
- Cecchi NJ, Callan AA, Watson LP, Liu Y, Zhan X, Vegesna RV, Pang C, Le Flao E, Grant GA, Zeineh MM, Camarillo DB. Padded Helmet Shell Covers in American Football: A Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation with Preliminary On-Field Findings.. Ann Biomed Eng 2023 Mar 14;:1-14.
- Lucas D, Stokes K, McGuigan P, Hill J, Cazzola D. Consensus on a jockey's injury prevention framework for video analysis: a modified Delphi study.. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2022;8(4):e001441.
- Funk JR, McIntosh AS, Withnall C, Wonnacott M, Jadischke R. Best Practices for Conducting Physical Reconstructions of Head Impacts in Sport.. Ann Biomed Eng 2022 Nov;50(11):1409-1422.
- Qiao CZ, Chen A, Blouin JS, Wu LC. Potential Mechanisms of Acute Standing Balance Deficits After Concussions and Subconcussive Head Impacts: A Review.. Ann Biomed Eng 2021 Oct;49(10):2693-2715.
- Fahlstedt M, Abayazid F, Panzer MB, Trotta A, Zhao W, Ghajari M, Gilchrist MD, Ji S, Kleiven S, Li X, Annaidh AN, Halldin P. Ranking and Rating Bicycle Helmet Safety Performance in Oblique Impacts Using Eight Different Brain Injury Models.. Ann Biomed Eng 2021 Mar;49(3):1097-1109.
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