A linear impactor system was used to apply a condensed version of the University of Ottawa Test Protocol, employing five centric and non-centric impact conditions, to a Hybrid III headform fitted with six certified ice hockey helmets. None of the helmeted conditions exceeded linear acceleration thresholds for traumatic or mild traumatic brain injury; however, five of the six helmets had angular acceleration results that were above the 80% risk of mild traumatic brain injury threshold proposed by Zhang et al. High risk of mild traumatic brain injury was associated with non-centric impact conditions and peak angular accelerations, supporting the need for improved three-dimensional helmet certification standards.
Dynamic impact responses and brain tissue deformations from helmeted centric and non-centric headform impacts were assessed with respect to suggested concussive injury thresholds from the literature. Results from six commercially available ice hockey helmets were compared statistically. It is proposed that the current centric impact standards for ice hockey helmets measuring linear acceleration have effectively eliminated traumatic head injuries in the sport, but that angular acceleration and brain tissue deformation metrics are more sensitive to the conditions associated with concussive injuries which continue to be a major injury in the sport.
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