Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate a novel approach to measuring neck muscle load and activity in vehicle collision conditions. A series of sled tests were performed on 10 healthy volunteers at three severity levels to simulate low-severity frontal impacts. Electrical activity—electromyography (EMG)—and muscle mechanical tension was measured bilaterally on the upper trapezius. A novel mechanical contraction (MC) sensor was used to measure the tension on the muscle surface. The neck extensor loads were estimated based on the inverse dynamics approach. The results showed strong linear correlation (Pearson’s coefficient = 0.821) between the estimated neck muscle load and the muscle tension measured with the MC sensor. The peak of the estimated neck muscle force delayed 0.2 ± 30.6 ms on average vs. the peak MC sensor signal compared to the average delay of 61.8 ± 37.4 ms vs. the peak EMG signal. The observed differences in EMG and MC sensor collected signals indicate that the MC sensor offers an additional insight into the analysis of the neck muscle load and activity in impact conditions. This approach enables a more detailed assessment of the muscle-tendon complex load of a vehicle occupant in pre-impact and impact conditions.
Highlights
Development and application of vehicle active safety systems received a great deal of attention from researchers and the automotive industry
The observed differences in EMG and mechanical contraction (MC) sensor collected signals indicate that the MC sensor offers an additional insight into the analysis of the neck muscle load and activity in impact conditions
Comparison of volunteer and simulated human body model response prior to a vehicle collision showed that both the muscle activation level and timing could have a significant effect on the head-neck dynamics, in frontal impacts [8,9,10]
Summary
Development and application of vehicle active safety systems received a great deal of attention from researchers and the automotive industry. Bracing and occupant body dynamics may influence the injury outcome in low-severity impacts [7]. Comparison of volunteer and simulated human body model response prior to a vehicle collision showed that both the muscle activation level and timing could have a significant effect on the head-neck dynamics, in frontal impacts [8,9,10]. Estimating skeletal muscle forces that influence human body motion can provide an insight into the average or person-specific active response, injury probability, and interaction of the human body with safety restraints, as well as assessment of driving ergonomics and comfort [11,12,13]
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