Assessing the Effect of Head and Neck Orientation on Head Injury Parameters in Taekwondo

Abstract

Background: Brain injuries may be caused by the linear and rotational acceleration of the head and neck; in fact, head and neck orientation are one of the factors determining the type and severity of brain injury when the impact delivered to head is a less important consideration. This investigation has analyzed the effect of head and neck orientation on linear and rotational acceleration in Taekwondo. Methods: The ADAMS software model has been used to determine the linear and rotational acceleration in the taekwondo roundhouse kick in various orientations. Results: The results revealed that the maximum linear and rotational acceleration was related to neck 0° were 99g, and 4576 , respectively. The head and neck orientation did not affect the magnitude of the linear and rotational acceleration in the sagittal plane. However, as the angle of the head and neck orientation increased in the frontal plane, the magnitude of the linear and rotational acceleration decreased. Conclusion: In general, the results indicate that only rotational acceleration was the cause of brain injury in taekwondo. Increasing the angle of orientation of the head and neck in frontal plane would lead to a reduction in intensity.