TY - JOUR T1 - Advances in wearable impact sensors for monitoring and reducing brain injury risks due to cumulative head impact trauma in athletic and military environments JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - A60 LP - A60 DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.157 VL - 51 IS - 11 AU - John Ralston AU - Jason Thibado AU - Jonathan Woodard Y1 - 2017/06/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/A60.2.abstract N2 - Objective Assess utility of wearable impact sensors to monitor and reduce cumulative brain injury risks in athletic and military environments.Design Analysis of results generated in multiple laboratory and on-field cohort studies.Setting Youth, college, and professional football, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, boxing; military training exercises.Participants Participants across multiple activities were monitored for head impacts using wearable sensors.Intervention Participants suffering a concussion underwent neurocognitive testing and entered a supervised return-to-play protocol.Outcome measures The influence of sensor design and data processing on the accuracy and reproducibility of head impact data have been assessed. Differences in head impact incidence and severity have been compared between training regimes that did/did not implement behavioural modifications based on sensor data. Head impact data have been combined with finite element modelling and high resolution MRI/DSI imaging to study spatial distribution of tissue damage and changes in neural connectivity.Main results Reduced size and weight skin-affixed sensors worn on the mastoid provide a stable and universally applicable solution for head impact monitoring. Behavioural modifications using these devices have reduced high risk head impacts by 30%−70%. Significant localised tissue damage and changes in neural connectivity are predicted and observed even in the absence of clinically diagnosed concussion symptoms.Conclusions Wearable impact sensors are enabling significant reductions in head injury risks and incidence in athletic and military environments. These devices show promise as neuro-trauma dosimeters that can assist in monitoring cumulative brain damage due to repetitive sub-concussive head impacts, and developing more comprehensive and personalised remove-from-play thresholds.Competing interests X2 Biosystems designs and manufactures wearable impact sensors ER -