Neda Boroushak¹, Hasan Khoshnoodi², Mostafa Rostami³

¹Sport Science Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
²Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shoushtar, Iran
³Amirkabir University, Biomedical Engineering Department, Tehran, Iran

Investigation of the Head’s Dynamic Response to Boxing Punch Using Computer Simulation

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2021, 10(1), 31-35 | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.210305

Abstract

Head injuries are dangerous injuries that are common in combat sports. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of concussion in sport have are not precisely known. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the dynamic response of the head based on linear and rotational accelerations in boxing using computer simulation. The ADAMS software model was used to determine the linear and rotational acceleration of boxing’s straight punch. The peak linear acceleration, average linear acceleration, peak rotational acceleration, and average rotational acceleration resulted from the straight punch to head were obtained: 75 g, 20 g, 4036 rad/s², 1140 rad/s², respectively; the impact times were 30 ms and 3 ms, respectively. The comparison of acceleration tolerance thresholds of head injury and obtained results of this study showed the rotational acceleration only leads to head injury. Furthermore, it is biomechanically improbable that the head would be moved only translationally or rotationally as a result of a straight punch. Therefore, both rotational and linear accelerations should be observed together for future studies.

Keywords

punch, linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, dynamic response

View full article
(PDF – 481KB)

References

Atha, J., Yeadon, M., Sandover, J., & Parsons, K. (1985). The damaging punch. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 291(6511), 1756-1757. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.291.6511.1756

Beaudouin, F., Aus der Fünten, K., Tröß, T., Reinsberger, C., & Meyer, T. (2019). Head injuries in professional male football (soccer) over 13 years: 29% lower incidence rates after a rule change (red card). British journal of sports medicine, 53(15), 948-952. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097217

Beaudouin, F., Aus der Fünten, K., Tröß, T., Reinsberger, C., & Meyer, T. (2020). Match Situations Leading to Head Injuries in Professional Male Football (Soccer)—A Video-Based Analysis Over 12 Years. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 30, S47-S52. https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000000572

Boroushak, N., Eslami, M., Kazemi, M., Daneshmandy, H., & Johnson, J. A. (2018). The dynamic response of the taekwondo roundhouse kick to head using computer simulation. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology, 18(2), 54-60. https://doi.org/10.14589/ido.18.2.8.

Campbell, I. N., Gallagher, M., McLeod, H. J., O’Neill, B., & McMillan, T. M. (2019). Brief compassion focused imagery for treatment of severe head injury. Neuropsychological rehabilitation, 29(6), 917-927. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2017.1342663

Chen, Y. (2012). Biomechanical analysis of traumatic brain injury by MRI-based finite element modeling. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Denny-Brown, D., & Russell, W. R. (1941). Experimental cerebral concussion. Brain, 64(2-3), 93-164. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/64.2-3.93

Fife, G., O’Sullivan, D., & Pieter, W. (2013). Biomechanics of head injury in Olympic taekwondo and boxing. Biology of sport, 30(4), 263-238. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1077551

Hoshizaki, T. B., Post, A., Oeur, R. A., & Brien, S. E. (2014). Current and future concepts in helmet and sports injury prevention. Neurosurgery, 75(suppl_4), S136-S148. https://doi.org/10.1227/NEU.0000000000000496

Kis, M., Saunders, F. W., Kis Sr, M., Irrcher, I., Tator, C. H., Bishop, P. J., & Martin, W. (2013). A method of evaluating helmet rotational acceleration protection using the Kingston Impact Simulator (KIS Unit). Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 23(6), 470-477. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e318295a80f

Löwenhielm, P. (1975). Mathematical simulation of gliding contusions. Journal of Biomechanics, 8(6), 351-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(75)90069-X

Motherway, J., Doorly, M. C., Curtis, M., & Gilchrist, M. D. (2009). Head impact biomechanics simulations: A forensic tool for reconstructing head injury? Legal Medicine, 11, S220-S222. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.072

Oeur, A. (2012). An analysis of head impact angle on the dynamic response of a Hybrid III headform and brain tissue deformation: University of Ottawa (Canada).

Ommaya, A., Goldsmith, W., & Thibault, L. (2002). Biomechanics and neuropathology of adult and paediatric head injury. British journal of neurosurgery, 16(3), 220-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/02688690220148824

Putukian, M., Echemendia, R. J., Chiampas, G., Dvorak, J., Mandelbaum, B., Lemak, L. J., & Kirkendall, D. (2019). Head Injury in Soccer: From Science to the Field; summary of the head injury summit held in April 2017 in New York City, New York. British journal of sports medicine, 53(21), 1332-1332. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100232.

Rowson, S., Brolinson, G., Goforth, M., Dietter, D., & Duma, S. (2009). Linear and angular head acceleration measurements in collegiate football. Journal of biomechanical engineering, 131(6). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3130454

Rowson, S., Duma, S. M., Beckwith, J. G., Chu, J. J., Greenwald, R. M., Crisco, J. J., Maerlender, A. C. (2012). Rotational head kinematics in football impacts: an injury risk function for concussion. Annals of biomedical engineering, 40(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0392-4

Schmitt, K.-U., Niederer, P. F., Cronin, D. S., Morrison III, B., Muser, M. H., & Walz, F. (2019). Head injuries Trauma Biomechanics (pp. 87-115): Springer.

Schmitt, K.-U., Niederer, P. F., Cronin, D. S., Muser, M. H., & Walz, F. (2014). Verletzungen der Wirbelsäule Trauma-Biomechanik (pp. 91-131): Springer.

Smith, M., Dyson, R., Hale, T., & Janaway, L. (2000). Development of a boxing dynamometer and its punch force discrimination efficacy. Journal of sports sciences, 18(6), 445-450. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410050074377

Viano, D. C., Casson, I. R., Pellman, E. J., Bir, C. A., Zhang, L., Sherman, D. C., & Boitano, M. A. (2005). Concussion in professional football: comparison with boxing head impacts—part 10. Neurosurgery, 57(6), 1154-1172. https://doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000187541.87937.D9

Walilko, T., Viano, D. C., & Bir, C. A. (2005). Biomechanics of the head for Olympic boxer punches to the face. British journal of sports medicine, 39(10), 710-719. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.014126

Winter, D. A. (2009). Biomechanics and motor control of human movement: John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470549148

Wu, L., Chung, J. Y., Saith, S., Tozzi, L., Buckley, E. M., Sanders, B., . . . Lok, J. (2019). Repetitive head injury in adolescent mice: A role for vascular inflammation. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 39(11), 2196-2209. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X18786633

Zong, Z., Lee, H., & Lu, C. (2006). A three-dimensional human head finite element model and power flow in a human head subject to impact loading. Journal of Biomechanics, 39(2), 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.11.015