Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects

The use of helmets by athletes has drastically reduced the incidence of severe brain injuriesresulting from head impacts. Despite widespread use of helmets, there continues to be aconcerning level of incidence of concussion. In contrast to the majority of traumatic injuries, aconcussion may not cause visible structural damage to the brain, but results in the rapidonsetof neurological dysfunction. Repeated trauma has been linked to a neurodegenerativedisease with devastating mental health outcomes, including increased levels of depression,aggression, and suicidality.Helmet testing standards implemented to reduce brain trauma involve monitoring theacceleration profiles of a drop-tested helmeted rigid headforms to ensure that criticalthresholds are not exceeded. Hard acceleration thresholds may not be adequate to definecritical conditions for trauma, particularly when an impact induces a rotational acceleration ofthe head or when we consider evidence that repeated subconcussive impacts have also ledto significant neurodegeneration. The response of a human brain is certainly more complexthan our current testing may be able to resolve, requiring a new basis of evaluation.The proposed research project will combine cadaver testing with finite element modelling toinform the design and validation of a next-generation deformable headform for impact testing.This new headform will return measurements of brain deformation that occur during theimpact. Since the brain undergoes significant deformation during an impact, it is expected thatthis measurement would be more sensitive to the rotational forces that are detrimental to thebrain. Upon completion, the developed headform will provide standards committees with analternative that may replace the current standards. Advancing the state of helmet evaluationhas the potential to increase the long-term quality of life for numerous Canadians at risk forconcussion.