Citation

Carlsson G, Nilsson S, Nilsson-Ehle A, Norin H, Ysander L, Oertengren R. Proc. IRCOBI 1985; 13: 277-289.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this work has been to find guidelines for the improvement of head restraints. As a basis the authors have taken an overall look at research within this area. Statistics, in-depth studies and biomechanical research show that the occurrence of neck injury in a rear end impact depends on several parameters. Car related parameters such as seat stiffness, distance to the head restraint and head restraint height differ between different seating positions in the car. Furthermore, individual parameters like sex, size, age, awareness of the accident and proneness to state pain, vary. The large number of important parameters makes it difficult to understand the injury mechanisms without a more thorough analysis that strives to describe the typical injuries for differently applied traumas. Then it will be possible to draw conclusions on injury preventive design of head restraints. Such work is only meaningful if it is based on an injury classification that describes the severity of the injury consequences. The AIS scale is not sufficient, its resolution and sensitivity is far too low and it does not take the risk of disability into consideration. The improved accident analysis should lead to the development of laboratory methods and measuring techniques. Thus the injury mechanisms can be further studied and quantified and the importance of different head restraint design parameters can be evaluated. The design of a head restraint must minimize the effect of individual differences and optimize the preventive properties of the restraint. The head restraint must be treated as one part of a protection system, where the seat is one important part. These two parts must be matched together. Many investigations compare fixed and adjustable head restraints. The adjustability is of course no injury parameter in itself and the understanding of the actual drawbacks with the adjustable head restraints of today must be investigated. Height is the most obvious difference but it is known that fittings to the seat, stiffness, etc. also vary. (TRRL)