Muscle activity during low-speed rear impact.
10.1016/j.cjtee.2018.10.006
- Author:
O'Driscoll OLIVE
1
,
2
;
Magnusson MARIANNE
3
;
Pope Malcolm HENRY
4
;
Chow Daniel HUNG-KAY
5
Author Information
1. Liberty Safe Work Research Centre, Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZP, Scotland, UK
2. AventaMed, Rubicon Centre, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
3. Section of Economy and Technology, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
4. Department of Health & Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
5. Department of Health & Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: danielchow@eduhk.hk.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Crash dummies;
Electromyography;
Impact;
Neck muscles;
Sled;
Whiplash
- MeSH:
Acceleration;
Accidents, Traffic;
Biomechanical Phenomena;
Electromyography;
Head;
physiopathology;
Humans;
Models, Biological;
Neck Muscles;
physiopathology;
Reaction Time;
Whiplash Injuries;
etiology;
physiopathology
- From:
Chinese Journal of Traumatology
2019;22(2):80-84
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE:Whiplash associated disorders remain a major health problem in terms of impact on health care and on societal costs. Aetiology remains controversial including the old supposition that the cervical muscles do not play a significant role. This study examined the muscle activity from relevant muscles during rear-end impacts in an effort to gauge their influence on the aetiology of whiplash associated disorders.
METHODS:Volunteers were subjected to a sub-injury level of rear impact. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record cervical muscle activity before, during and after impact. Muscle response time and EMG signal amplitude were analysed. Head, pelvis, and T1 acceleration data were recorded.
RESULTS:The activities of the cervical muscles were found to be significant. The sternocleidomastoideus, trapezius and erector spinae were activated on average 59 ms, 73 ms and 84 ms after the impact stimulus, respectively, prior to peak head acceleration (113 ms).
CONCLUSION:The cervical muscles reacted prior to peak head acceleration, thus in time to influence whiplash biomechanics and possibly injury mechanisms. It is recommended therefore, that muscular influences be incorporated into the development of the new rear-impact crash test dummy in order to make the dummy as biofidelic as possible.
