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Head motions while riding roller coasters: implications for brain injury
Bryan J Pfister1, Larry Chickola, Douglas H Smith
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. pfister@njit.edu
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|November 11, 2009
Summary
Roller coaster rides pose an extremely low risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Head injury research shows roller coasters induce milder head motions than many daily activities, contrary to popular belief.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding traumatic brain injury (TBI) risk from roller coaster G-forces.
- Medical professionals often link roller coasters to TBI due to high gravitational forces.
- However, head injury research indicates G-forces alone do not predict TBI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the TBI potential between roller coaster rides and daily activities.
- To analyze head motions and injury criteria during various activities.
- To assess the actual risk of TBI associated with roller coaster use.
Main Methods:
- Measured three-dimensional head motions during roller coaster rides, a pillow fight, and car crash simulations.
- Analyzed data using established head injury criterion (HIC) procedures.
- Compared measured head motions and HIC values with published data.
Main Results:
- Car crash simulations (8.05 m/s) resulted in significantly higher HIC measures (28.1) and head impact power (3.41) compared to roller coasters (4.1 and 0.36).
- Linear and rotational head accelerations during roller coaster rides were found to be milder than those from many common activities.
- The study found an extremely low risk of TBI from roller coaster head motions.
Conclusions:
- Roller coaster head motions present a minimal risk for traumatic brain injury.
- The forces experienced on roller coasters are less concerning for TBI than previously asserted.
- Head injury risk assessment should consider complex head motion dynamics, not just G-forces.
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