Citation

Vollavanh LR, O'Day KM, Koehling EM, May JM, Breedlove KM, Breedlove EL, Nauman EA, Bradney DA, Goff JE, Bowman TG. J. Appl. Biomech. 2018; 34(5): 396-402.

Affiliation

Department of Athletic Training, Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jab.2017-0231

PMID

29809079

Abstract

Quantifying head impacts is a vital component to understanding and preventing head trauma in sport. Our objective was to establish the frequency and magnitude of head impact mechanisms in men's lacrosse athletes. Eleven male lacrosse athletes wore xPatch sensors during activity. Video footage of practices and games was analyzed to verify impacts and code them with impact mechanisms. We calculated incidence rates (IR) per 1000 exposures with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and used MANOVAs to compare the linear (g) and rotational (rad/sec2) accelerations between mechanisms. A total of 167 head impacts were successfully verified and coded with a mechanism using video footage during 542 total exposures. The highest incidence rate was head to body (IR=118.08, 95% CI=89.15-147.01) and the lowest was head to ball (IR=3.69, 95% CI=0-8.80; IRR=32.00 (95% CI=67.83-130.73). Analysis indicated that impact mechanism failed to significantly alter the combined dependent variables (multivariate F_10,306=1.79, P=.06, η²=.06, 1-β=.83). While head to head, body to head, and stick to head mechanisms are penalty-inducing offenses in men's lacrosse, head to ground, head to ball, and combination impacts have similar head accelerations. If penalties and rules are created to protect players from traumatic head injury, we recommend stricter enforcement.

Language: en

Keywords

accelerometer; biomechanics; concussion; gyroscope; sport; telemetry