Citation

Mihalik JP, Sumrall AZ, Yeargin SW, Guskiewicz KM, King KB, Trulock SC, Shields EW. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2017; 49(10): 2093-2101.

Affiliation

1Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; 2Curriculum in Human Movement Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; 3Exercise Science Department, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; 4The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte, NC; 5Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville, FL.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0000000000001325

PMID

28509764

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recent anecdotal trends suggest a disproportionate number of head injuries in collegiate American football players occur during preseason football camp. In warmer climates, this season also represents the highest risk for heat-related illness among collegiate football players. Since concussion and heat illnesses share many common symptoms, we need 1) to understand if environmental conditions, body temperature, and hydration status affect head impact biomechanics; and 2) to determine if an in-helmet thermistor could provide a valid measure of gastrointestinal temperature.

METHODS: A prospective cohort of 18 Division I college football players (age = 21.1 ± 1.4 yrs; height = 187.7 ± 6.6 cm; mass = 114.5 ± 23.4 kg). Data were collected during three experimental and one control session. During each session, the Head Impact Telemetry System recorded head impact biomechanics (linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, and severity profile) and in-helmet temperature. A wet bulb globe device recorded environmental conditions, and CorTemp Ingestible Core Body Temperature Sensor recorded gastrointestinal temperature.

RESULTS: Our findings suggest that linear acceleration (P = 0.57), rotational acceleration (P = 0.16), and HITsp (P =0.33) are not influenced by environmental or physiological conditions.

CONCLUSION: We did not find any single or combination of predictors for impact severity. Rotational acceleration was approaching significance between our early experimental sessions when compared to our control session. More research should be conducted to better understand if rotational accelerations are a component of impact magnitudes that are affected due to changes in environmental conditions, body temperature, and hydration status.

Language: en