Pediatric head and neck dynamics in frontal impact: analysis of important mechanical factors and proposed neck performance corridors for 6- and 10-year-old ATDs.

Objective: Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death of children aged 1-19 in the United States and are principally caused by motor vehicle collisions, with the head being the primary region injured. The neck, though not commonly injured, governs head kinematics and thus influences head injury. Vehicle improvements necessary to reduce these injuries are evaluated using anthropomorphic testing devices (ATDs).

Importance of muscle activations for biofidelic pediatric neck response in computational models.

Objective: During dynamic injury scenarios, such as motor vehicle crashes, neck biomechanics contribute to head excursion and acceleration, influencing head injuries. One important tool in understanding head and neck dynamics is computational modeling. However, realistic and stable muscle activations for major muscles are required to realize meaningful kinematic responses.