A systematic approach to the characterisation of human impact injury scenarios in sport

Abstract

BackgroundIn contact sports (eg, American football or rugby), injuries resulting from impacts are widespread. There have been several attempts to identify and collate, within a conceptual framework, factors influencing the likelihood of an injury. To effectively define an injury event it is necessary to systematically consider all potential causal factors but none of the previous approaches are complete in this respect.AimsFirst, to develop a superior deterministic contextual sequential (DCS) model to promote a complete and logical description of interrelated injury event factors. Second, to demonstrate systematic use of the model to construct enhanced perspectives for impact-injury research.MethodPrevious models were examined and elements of best practice synthesised into a new DCS framework description categorising the types of causal factors influencing injury. The approach's internal robustness is demonstrated by consideration of its completeness, lack of redundancy and logical consistency.ResultsThe model's external validity and worth are demonstrated through its use to generate superior descriptive injury models, experimental protocols and intervention opportunities. Comprehensive research perspectives have been developed using a common rugby impact-injury scenario as an example; this includes: a detailed description of the injury event, an experimental protocol for a human-on-surrogate reconstruction, and a series of practical interventions in the sport of rugby aimed at mitigating the risk of injury.ConclusionsOur improved characterisation tool presents a structured approach to identify pertinent factors relating to an injury.

Review of Auxetic Materials for Sports Applications: Expanding Options in Comfort and Protection

“…Injuries in sport are common and place a significant burden upon participants and national economies [43,44], estimated at $525 (~£380) million per year in The Netherlands [45] for example. The main methods of intervention are elimination, modification (a reduction in severity or likelihood of injury) and reaction (i.e., medical) [44].…”

“…Injuries in sport are common and place a significant burden upon participants and national economies [43,44], estimated at $525 (~£380) million per year in The Netherlands [45] for example. The main methods of intervention are elimination, modification (a reduction in severity or likelihood of injury) and reaction (i.e., medical) [44]. Preventative measures such as sports safety equipment, and/or rule changes, are more cost effective than reactive procedures [44] and successful products can increase a manufacturer's share of the sporting goods market (~$90/£66 billion in the USA in 2017 [46]).…”

“…The main methods of intervention are elimination, modification (a reduction in severity or likelihood of injury) and reaction (i.e., medical) [44]. Preventative measures such as sports safety equipment, and/or rule changes, are more cost effective than reactive procedures [44] and successful products can increase a manufacturer's share of the sporting goods market (~$90/£66 billion in the USA in 2017 [46]). Sporting PE is intended to reduce risks and is typically either an addition to the playing field or environment (i.e., crash matt or barrier, known herein as PE) or PPE.…”

Controlling Density and Modulus in Auxetic Foam Fabrications—Implications for Impact and Indentation Testing

“…Preventing, or reducing the severity of injuries with protective equipment (personal protective equipment (PPE) i.e., knee pads and environmental i.e., crash mats) is more cost effective than medical treatment [3]. PPE and crash mats typically contain compliant material (i.e., foam) to cushion impacting bodies.…”

“…Simplifications mean tests do not always reflect the sporting conditions/incidences where protection is required [1,3,7]. Certification (i.e., pass/fail) is typically the only information that users have detailing equipment function.…”