Sub-concussive impacts in sports pose significant health risks, yet limited data exist on their magnitude and long-term effects, particularly in mountain biking. This study aims to extrapolate accelerometer data from mountain bike trails into equivalent concussive impacts using the Head Injury Criterion (HIC). Two bikes, a hardtail and a full suspension, equipped with helmet-mounted sensors, were ridden down the Cascades trail in Worcester, Massachusetts. Acceleration data were collected and processed using MATLAB to calculate HIC values. Results were compared to injury thresholds established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The average HIC for the hardtail was 274.94, and for the full suspension, 212.73, corresponding to level 1 injury severity. Although consistent with previous studies, limitations include the small number of runs and the inability to visualize internal brain damage. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of sub-concussive impacts in mountain biking. This study sheds light on the potential health risks associated with sport and underscores the need for continued investigation into injury prevention and rider safety measures.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ott, Samuel
• Libby, Christopher

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121825
• E-project-042524-164744

Keyword

• Concussion
• Head Injury Criterion

Advisor

• Nephew, Benjamin
• Ji, Songbai

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042524-164744

Rights statement

• In Copyright