Head Motions While Riding Roller Coasters

Abstract

The risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) while riding roller coasters has received substantial attention. Case reports of TBI around the time of riding roller coasters have led many medical professionals to assert that the high gravitational forces (G-forces) induced by roller coasters pose a significant TBI risk. Head injury research, however, has shown that G-forces alone cannot predict TBI. Established head injury criterions and procedures were employed to compare the potential of TBI between daily activities and roller coaster riding. Three dimensional head motions were measured during three different roller coaster rides, a pillow fight, and car crash simulations. Data was analyzed and compared to published data using similar analyses of head motions. An 8.05m/s car crash lead to the largest head injury criterion measure (HIC15) of 28.1 and head impact factor (HIP) of 3.41, over six times larger than the roller coaster rides of 4.1 and 0.36. Notably, the linear and rotational components of head acceleration during roller coaster rides were milder than those induced by many common activities. As such, there appears to be an extremely low risk of TBI due to the head motions induced by roller coaster rides.

Roller coaster-associated subarachnoid hemorrhage—report of 2 cases

“…Head accelerations have been shown to range below biomechanical thresholds for traumatic parenchymal brain injury or tearing of bridging veins [4]. Nonetheless, there are a number of reports of subdural hematoma in roller coaster riders, including those that are young and healthy [2].…”

Internal Carotid Artery Dissection After a Roller Coaster Ride in a 4-Year-Old: Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…These forces can stretch and compress the ICA against the transverse processes, vertebral bodies of the upper cervical spine, or styloid process resulting in dissection. 7,[9][10][11] Analysis of G forces experienced by trivial activities suggests that brain injury might be independent of the severity of G forces, but susceptible to duration of exposure. Biomechanical models of ICA dissection secondary to spontaneous or minor trauma are limited, making complete understanding of its pathogenesis difficult.…”

“…[5][6][7] Maximal stress on the extracranial ICA has been shown to occur at 90 lateral rotation or 45 rotation with hyperextension, with peak well stress occurring at 10-20 mm distal to the cervical ICA. 8 In the setting of minor and spontaneous trauma, ICA dissections are thought to result from sudden linear acceleration, deceleration, and rotational forces (such as those experienced while riding a roller coaster) as well as hyperextension, rotation, or lateral flexion of the neck.…”

A Motion Simulator Ride Associated With Headache and Subdural Hematoma: First Case Report

“…This is below estimated thresholds for bridging vein rupture in the models cited previously. Pfister et al studied three‐dimensional head motions during three different roller coaster rides, a pillow fight, and in car crash simulations . They found rotational acceleration values as high as 1847 rad/second.…”

“…Common models used are the head injury criterion and head impact power which report head motion as a function of time. Individual peak values of acceleration alone are not adequate to predict the risk of a brain injury.” The head injury criterion model, based on the Wayne State Tolerance curve, was first developed in the 1960s and has undergone continuous revision . It is based on translational accelerations and not rotational forces, and may not be an appropriate or at the very least an incomplete model for the assessment of head injuries .…”