Head Impact Modeling to Support a Rotational Combat Helmet Drop Test.

INTRODUCTION: The Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) military specification (mil-spec) provides blunt impact acceleration criteria that must be met before use by the U.S. warfighter. The specification, which requires a helmeted magnesium Department of Transportation (DOT) headform to be dropped onto a steel hemispherical target, results in a translational headform impact response. Relative to translations, rotations of the head generate higher brain tissue strains. Excessive strain has been implicated as a mechanical stimulus leading to traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that the linear constrained drop test method of the ACH specification underreports the potential for TBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To establish a baseline of translational acceleration time histories, we conducted linear constrained drop tests based on the ACH specification and then performed simulations of the same to verify agreement between experiment and simulation. We then produced a high-fidelity human head digital twin and verified that biological tissue responses matched experimental results. Next, we altered the ACH experimental configuration to use a helmeted Hybrid III headform, a freefall cradle, and an inclined anvil target. This new, modified configuration allowed both a translational and a rotational headform response. We applied this experimental rotation response to the skull of our human digital twin and compared brain deformation relative to the translational baseline. RESULTS: The modified configuration produced brain strains that were 4.3 times the brain strains from the linear constrained configuration. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a scientific basis to motivate revision of the ACH mil-spec to include a rotational component, which would enhance the test's relevance to TBI arising from severe head impacts.

Ice Hockey Summit II: zero tolerance for head hits and fighting.

OBJECTIVE: To present currently known basic science and on-ice influences of sport-related concussion (SRC) in hockey, building on the Ice Hockey Summit I action plan (2011) to reduce SRC. METHODS: The prior summit proceedings included an action plan intended to reduce SRC. As such, the proceedings from Summit I served as a point of departure, for the science and discussion held during Summit II (Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, October 2013). Summit II focused on (1) Basic Science of Concussions in Ice Hockey: Taking Science Forward; (2) Acute and Chronic Concussion Care: Making a Difference; (3) Preventing Concussions via Behavior, Rules, Education and Measuring Effectiveness; (4) Updates in Equipment: their Relationship to Industry Standards; and (5) Policies and Plans at State, National and Federal Levels to reduce SRC. Action strategies derived from the presentations and discussion described in these sectors were subsequently voted on for purposes of prioritization. The following proceedings include knowledge and research shared by invited faculty, many of whom are health care providers and clinical investigators. RESULTS: The Summit II evidence-based action plan emphasizes the rapidly evolving scientific content of hockey SRC. It includes the most highly prioritized strategies voted on for implementation to decrease concussion. CONCLUSIONS: The highest priority action items identified from the Summit includes the following: (1) eliminate head hits from all levels of ice hockey, (2) change body-checking policies, and (3) eliminate fighting in all amateur and professional hockey.

Ice hockey summit II: zero tolerance for head hits and fighting.

OBJECTIVE: To present currently known basic science and on-ice influences of sport related concussion (SRC) in hockey, building upon the Ice Hockey Summit I action plan (2011) to reduce SRC. METHODS: The prior summit proceedings included an action plan intended to reduce SRC. As such, the proceedings from Summit I served as a point of departure, for the science and discussion held during Summit II (Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, October, 2013). Summit II focused on Basic Science of Concussions in Ice Hockey: Taking Science Forward; (2) Acute and Chronic Concussion Care: Making a Difference; (3) Preventing Concussions via Behavior, Rules, Education and Measuring Effectiveness; (4) Updates in Equipment: their Relationship to Industry Standards and (5) Policies and Plans at State, National and Federal Levels to reduce SRC. Action strategies derived from the presentations and discussion described in these sectors were subsequently voted on for purposes of prioritization. The following proceedings include the knowledge and research shared by invited faculty, many of whom are health care providers and clinical investigators. RESULTS: The Summit II evidence based action plan emphasizes the rapidly evolving scientific content of hockey SRC. It includes the most highly prioritized strategies voted on for implementation to decrease concussion. CONCLUSIONS: The highest priority action items identified from the Summit include: 1) eliminate head hits from all levels of ice hockey, 2) change body checking policies, and 3) eliminate fighting in all amateur and professional hockey.

Ice Hockey Summit II: zero tolerance for head hits and fighting.

This study aimed to present currently known basic science and on-ice influences of sport-related concussion (SRC) in hockey, building upon the Ice Hockey Summit I action plan (2011) to reduce SRC. The prior summit proceedings included an action plan intended to reduce SRC. As such, the proceedings from Summit I served as a point of departure for the science and discussion held during Summit II (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, October 2013). Summit II focused on (1) Basic Science of Concussions in Ice Hockey: Taking Science Forward, (2) Acute and Chronic Concussion Care: Making a Difference, (3) Preventing Concussions via Behavior, Rules, Education, and Measuring Effectiveness, (4) Updates in Equipment: Their Relationship to Industry Standards, and (5) Policies and Plans at State, National, and Federal Levels To Reduce SRC. Action strategies derived from the presentations and discussion described in these sectors were voted on subsequently for purposes of prioritization. The following proceedings include the knowledge and research shared by invited faculty, many of whom are health care providers and clinical investigators. The Summit II evidence-based action plan emphasizes the rapidly evolving scientific content of hockey SRC. It includes the most highly prioritized strategies voted on for implementation to decrease concussion. The highest-priority action items identified from the Summit include the following: (1) eliminate head hits from all levels of ice hockey, (2) change body checking policies, and (3) eliminate fighting in all amateur and professional hockey.