Quantification of subconcussive impact forces to the head using a forensic model

D C Tong; T J Winter; J Jin; A C Bennett; J N Waddell

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.018

Quantification of subconcussive impact forces to the head using a forensic model

J Clin Neurosci. 2015 Apr;22(4):747-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.018. Epub 2015 Mar 3.

Authors

D C Tong¹, T J Winter², J Jin², A C Bennett³, J N Waddell²

Affiliations

¹ Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, 310 Great King Street, Dunedin 9010, New Zealand. Electronic address: darryl.tong@otago.ac.nz.
² Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, 310 Great King Street, Dunedin 9010, New Zealand.
³ Division of International Affairs, Kansai University, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan.

PMID: 25744077
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.018

Abstract

Concussive and subconcussive head injury is a global phenomenon that affects millions of people each year. Concussive injury has been extensively studied in sport, which has led to a greater understanding of the biomechanical forces involved and guidelines aimed at preventing athletes from playing while concussed. Subconcussive forces by definition do not meet the threshold for concussion but nonetheless may have significant long term consequences due to the repetitive pattern of injury to the head. Quantifying these impact forces using a forensic head model provides the groundwork for future studies by establishing a range or threshold of subconcussive impact forces that could be correlated with clinical assessments. The use of a forensic head model has distinct advantages in terms of ethics and safety.

Keywords: Concussion; Forensic head model; Impact forces; Kendo; Subconcussion.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
Craniocerebral Trauma / diagnosis*
Female
Humans
Male
Models, Anatomic*