BJSM

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER


[Advanced]
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2005;39:710-719; doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.014126
Copyright © 2005 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this link to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Add article to my folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walilko, T J
Right arrow Articles by Bir, C A
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walilko, T J
Right arrow Articles by Bir, C A

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Biomechanics of the head for Olympic boxer punches to the face

T J Walilko, D C Viano, C A Bir

Sports Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of BioMedical Engineering, Wayne State University, 818 W. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
David C Viano
ProBiomechanics LLC, 265 Warrington Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2952, USA; dviano{at}comcast.net

Objective: The biomechanics of the head for punches to the jaw and the risk of head injury from translational and rotational acceleration were studied.



View larger version (169K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 2  Accelerometer package inserted into his handwrap and used to measure the boxer’s hand motion. Photograph reproduced with patient consent.

 
Methods: Seven Olympic boxers from five weight classes delivered 18 straight punches to the frangible face of the Hybrid III dummy. Translational and rotational head acceleration, neck responses, and jaw pressure distribution were measured. High speed video recorded each blow and was used to determine punch velocity. Equilibrium was used to determine punch force, energy transfer, and power.

Results: Punch force averaged 3427 (standard deviation (SD) 811) N, hand velocity 9.14 (SD 2.06) m/s, and effective punch mass 2.9 (SD 2.0) kg. Punch force was higher for the heavier weight classes, due primarily to a higher effective mass of the punch. Jaw load was 876 (SD 288) N. The peak translational acceleration was 58 (SD 13) g, rotational acceleration was 6343 (SD 1789) rad/s2, and neck shear was 994 (SD 318) N.

Conclusions: Olympic boxers deliver straight punches with high impact velocity and energy transfer. The severity of the punch increases with weight class.

Abbreviations: BG, boxing gloves; BF, bare fists; DAI, diffuse axonal injuries; cg, centre of gravity; HIC, head injury criterion; KG, karate gloves; MTBI, mild traumatic brain injury; NFL, National Football League; SD, standard deviation

Keywords: boxing; concussion; impact biomechanics; sport equipment testing; sport injury






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
Terms and conditions relating to subscriptions purchased online  ¦  Website terms and conditions  ¦  Privacy policy
Copyright © 2005 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine