On-field Head Acceleration Exposure Measurements Using Instrumented Mouthguards: Multi-stage Screening to Optimize Data Quality.

Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) are widely applied to measure head acceleration event (HAE) exposure in sports. Despite laboratory validation, on-field factors including potential sensor skull-decoupling and spurious recordings limit data accuracy. Video analysis can provide complementary information to verify sensor data but lacks quantitative kinematics reference information and suffers from subjectivity.

A computational pipeline towards large-scale and multiscale modeling of traumatic axonal injury.

Contemporary biomechanical modeling of traumatic brain injury (TBI) focuses on either the global brain as an organ or a representative tiny section of a single axon. In addition, while it is common for a global brain model to employ real-world impacts as input, axonal injury models have largely been limited to inputs of either tension or compression with assumed peak strain and strain rate. These major gaps between global and microscale modeling preclude a systematic and mechanistic investigation of how tissue strain from impact leads to downstream axonal damage throughout the white matter.

Individualized monitoring of longitudinal heading exposure in soccer.

There is growing concern that repetitive soccer headers may have negative long-term consequences on brain health. However, inconsistent and low-quality heading exposure measurements limit past investigations of this effect. Here we conducted a comprehensive heading exposure analysis across all players on a university women's soccer team for over two calendar years (36 unique athletes), quantifying both game and practice exposure during all in-season and off-season periods, with over ten thousand video-confirmed headers.

On-field instrumented mouthguard coupling.

Instrumented mouthguard (iMG) sensors have been developed to measure sports head acceleration events (HAE) in brain injury research. Laboratory validation studies show that effective coupling of iMGs with the human skull is crucial for accurate head kinematics measurements. However, iMG-skull coupling has not been investigated in on-field sports settings.

Head Impact Exposure and Biomechanics in University Varsity Women's Soccer.

Soccer is a unique sport where players purposefully and voluntarily use their unprotected heads to manipulate the direction of the ball. There are limited soccer head impact exposure data to further study brain injury risks. The objective of the current study was to combine validated mouthpiece sensors with comprehensive video analysis methods to characterize head impact exposure and biomechanics in university varsity women's soccer.

Lack of impact moderating movement adaptation when soccer players perform game specific tasks on a third-generation artificial surface without a cushioning underlay.

The objective of this study was to investigate how the inclusion of a cushioning underlay in a third-generation artificial turf (3G) affects player biomechanics during soccer-specific tasks. Twelve soccer players (9 males/3 females; 22.6 ± 2.

Adjustments with running speed reveal neuromuscular adaptations during landing associated with high mileage running training.

It remains to be determined whether running training influences the amplitude of lower limb muscle activations before and during the first half of stance and whether such changes are associated with joint stiffness regulation and usage of stored energy from tendons. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate neuromuscular and movement adaptations before and during landing in response to running training across a range of speeds. Two groups of high mileage (HM; >45 km/wk, = 13) and low mileage (LM; <15 km/wk, = 13) runners ran at four speeds (2.

Can Trained Runners Effectively Attenuate Impact Acceleration During Repeated High-Intensity Running Bouts?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged high-intensity running on impact accelerations in trained runners. Thirteen male distance runners completed two 20-minute treadmill runs at speeds corresponding to 95% of onset of blood lactate accumulation. Leg and head accelerations were collected for 20 s every fourth minute.

A Global Gait Asymmetry Index.

High levels of gait asymmetry are associated with many pathologies. Our long-term goal is to improve gait symmetry through real-time biofeedback of a symmetry index. Symmetry is often reported as a single metric or a collective signature of multiple discrete measures.

Influence of tibial shock feedback training on impact loading and running economy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether real-time feedback (RTF) training would reduce impact loading variables previously linked with tibial stress fracture risk and whether these adaptations would influence running economy.

Methods: Twenty-two male runners were randomly assigned to RTF (n = 12) and control (n = 10) groups. The RTF group received feedback based on their peak tibial axial accelerations (PTA) during six 20-min treadmill runs for 3 wk, whereas the control group adhered to the same training but without feedback.

Effects of fatigue on running mechanics associated with tibial stress fracture risk.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of progressive fatigue on the parameters of running mechanics previously associated with tibial stress fracture risk.

Methods: Twenty-one trained male distance runners performed three sets (Pre, Mid, and Post) of six overground running trials at 4.5 m.