Biomechanical analysis of football neck collars

Rowson, Steven; McNeely, David E.; Brolinson, P. Gunnar; Duma, Stefan M.

Affiliations

¹Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics, Blacksburg, Virginia

²Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia

Abstract and keywords

Objective: To determine the load-limiting capabilities of protective neck collars used in football through dynamic impact testing.

Design: A 50th-percentile male Hybrid III dummy was used in 48 dynamic impact tests comparing the Cowboy Collar, Bullock Collar, and Kerr Collar. A control and each collar were tested at two velocities (5 m/s and 7 m/s), three impact locations (front, top, and side of the helmet), and two shoulder pad positions (normal and raised).

Setting: Research laboratory.

Patients: None. I

nterventions: None. Independent variables were the neck collars, impact velocity, and shoulder pad position.

Main Outcome Measurements: In addition to range of motion, upper and lower neck forces and moments were measured.

Results: With the top impact location, it was found that the Kerr Collar and Bullock Collar reduced head accelerations and force transmission through the neck. With the front impact location, all the collars reduced lower neck moment. The Kerr Collar was also capable of reducing the lower neck force and upper neck moment. With the side impact location, the Kerr Collar substantially reduced lower neck moment.

Conclusions: These reductions in loads correlate with the degree to which each collar restricted the motion of the head and neck. By restricting the range of motion of the neck and redistributing load to the shoulders, neck loads can be effectively lowered.

Keywords: stinger; neck collar; football; brachial plexus

Links

DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31817f016a

PubMed: 18614882

WoS: 000257568300002

History

Received: 2007-11-06

Accepted: 2008-05-04

Cited Works (3)

Year	Entry
2003	Pellman EJ, Viano DC, Tucker A, Casson IR, Waeckerle JF. Concussion in professional football: reconstruction of game impacts and injuries. Neurosurgery. October 2003;53(4):799-814.
2003	Pellman EJ, Viano DC, Tucker AM, Casson IR. Concussion in professional football: location and direction of helmet impacts—part 2. Neurosurgery. December 2003;53(6):1328-1341.
2005	Duma SM, Manoogian SJ, Bussone WR, Brolinson PG, Goforth MW, Donnenwerth JJ, Greenwald RM, Chu JJ, Crisco JJ. Analysis of real-time head accelerations in collegiate football players. Clin J Sport Med. January 2005;15(1):3-8.

Cited By (17)

Year	Entry
2010	Schmitt K-U, Niederer PF, Muser MH, Walz F. Trauma Biomechanics: Accidental Injury in Traffic and Sports. 2nd ed. Deidelberg, Germany: Springer; 2010.
2012	Beeman SM, Kemper AR, Madigan ML, Franck CT, Loftus SC. Occupant kinematics in low-speed frontal sled tests: human volunteers, Hybrid III ATD, and PMHS. Accid Anal Prev. July 2012;47:128-139.
2011	Rowson S, Duma SM. Development of the STAR evaluation system for football helmets: integrating player head impact exposure and risk of concussion. Ann Biomed Eng. August 2011;39(8):2130-2140.
2012	Rowson S, Duma SM, Beckwith JG, Chu JJ, Greenwald RM, Crisco JJ, Brolinson PG, Duhaime A-C, McAllister TW, Maerlender AC. Rotational head kinematics in football impacts: an injury risk function for concussion. Ann Biomed Eng. January 2012;40(1):1-13.
2012	Beyer JA, Rowson S, Duma SM. Concussions experienced by major league baseball catchers and umpires: field data and experimental baseball impacts. Ann Biomed Eng. January 2012;40(1):150-159.
2012	Gayzik FS, Moreno DP, Danelson KA, McNally C, Klinich KD, Stitzel JD. External landmark, body surface, and volume data of a mid-sized male in seated and standing postures. Ann Biomed Eng. September 2012;40(9):2019-2032.
2013	Rowson S, Duma SM. Brain injury prediction: assessing the combined probability of concussion using linear and rotational head acceleration. Ann Biomed Eng. May 2013;41(4):873-882.
2011	Rowson S, Beckwith JG, Chu JJ, Leonard DS, Greenwald RM, Duma SM. A six degree of freedom head acceleration measurement device for use in football. J Appl Biomech. February 2011;27(1):8-14.
2012	Manoogian SJ, Bisplinghoff JA, Kemper AR, Duma SM. Dynamic material properties of the pregnant human uterus. J Biomech. June 1, 2012;45(9):1724-1727.
2011	Nelson TS. Towards a Neck Injury Prevention Helmet for Head-First Impacts: A Mechanical Investigation [PhD thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; December 2011.
2011	Beyer JA. The Etiology of Impact Related Concussion for Catchers and Umpires in Baseball [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; April 27, 2011.
2011	Rowson S. Head Acceleration Experienced by Man: Exposure, Tolerance, and Applications [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 29, 2011.
2012	Alphonse VD. Injury Biomechanics of the Human Eye During Blunt and Blast Loading [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 26, 2012.
2012	Daniel RW II. Head Acceleration Measurements in Helmet-Helmet Impacts and the Youth Population [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; April 16, 2012.
2013	Young TJ. Head Impact Biomechanics and Helmet Performance in Youth Football [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; December 9, 2013.
2015	Beeman SM. Biomechanical Response of Human Volunteers and Surrogates in a Variety of Loading Regimes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; 2015.
2019	Campolettano ET. Quantifying Postural Control, Concussion Risk, and Helmet Performance in Youth Football [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 27, 2019.