Citation

Bland ML, McNally C, Zuby DS, Mueller BC, Rowson S. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Center for Injury Biomechanics, 440 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10439-019-02330-0

PMID

31372859

Abstract

Cycling is a leading cause of mild traumatic brain injury in the US. While bicycle helmets help protect cyclists who crash, limited biomechanical data exist differentiating helmet protective capabilities. This paper describes the development of a bicycle helmet evaluation scheme based in real-world cyclist accidents and brain injury mechanisms. Thirty helmet models were subjected to oblique impacts at six helmet locations and two impact velocities. The summation of tests for the analysis of risk (STAR) equation, which condenses helmet performance from a range of tests into a single value, was used to summarize measured linear and rotational head kinematics in the context of concussion risk. STAR values varied between helmets (10.9-25.3), with lower values representing superior protection. Road helmets produced lower STAR values than urban helmets. Helmets with slip planes produced lower STAR values than helmets without. This bicycle helmet evaluation protocol can educate consumers on the relative impact performance of various helmets and stimulate safer helmet design.

Language: en

Keywords

Biomechanics; Concussion; Cycling; Impact; Injury risk