Consensus Head Acceleration Measurement Practices (CHAMP): Laboratory Validation of Wearable Head Kinematic Devices

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Wearable devices are vital for measuring head impacts and understanding brain injury mechanisms.
• Current validation methods for these devices lack standardization, leading to inconsistent data reliability.
• Some devices are used in real-world settings without adequate prior laboratory validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish best practices for the laboratory validation of wearable head kinematic devices.
• To standardize testing methodologies and data reporting for reliable head impact sensing.
• To provide a foundation for rigorous validation prior to on-field deployment.

Main Methods:

• Expert consensus was reached on key considerations for laboratory validation.
• Recommendations cover surrogate selection, test conditions, data collection, and data analysis.
• A systematic review of existing validation methodologies informed the best practices.

Main Results:

• Defined best practices for four critical aspects of laboratory validation.
• Emphasized the necessity of laboratory validation as a prerequisite for on-field use.
• Aimed to improve the accuracy and reliability of head impact data collected by wearable devices.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to these best practices will enhance the rigor of wearable device validation.
• Standardized validation leads to more accurate head impact data, crucial for brain injury research.
• Implementation of these recommendations will advance the field of head injury assessment and management.