DIMINISHED IMPACT ATTENUATION PROPERTIES OF TAEKWONDO AND BOXING HEADGEAR

1. W Pieter1, 
2. D O'Sullivan2, 
3. G Fife2

5. Abstract

   Background Only one study reported the impact attenuation of taekwondo headgear. Although Olympic boxing has discontinued the use of head protectors, similarities in designs are suggested to provide a framework for improving taekwondo helmets as a previous report determined poor testing results.
   Objective To assess attenuation of taekwondo and boxing headgear.
   Design Between-groups.
   Setting: Impact biomechanics laboratory.
   Participants Helmets approved by the World Taekwondo Federation and those by the International Boxing Association.
   Risk Factor assessement A standardized (ASTM F-2397) martial arts headgear striker was used to impart impacts to a 50^th Percentile Male Hybrid III Dummy (Hybrid III) head and neck complex. All impacts were imparted with a terminal striking velocity of 5.0 m/s (max-min=5.15–4.75 m/s). Each headgear model (boxing: Adidas and Green Hills; taekwondo: Adidas and Nike) were fitted to the Hybrid III and impacted a total of 60 times to the left side of the headgear.
   Main outcome measurements Resultant linear acceleration (RLA).
   Results There was a significant difference in RLA between helmets (eta²=0.963, 95% CI: 0.881–0.987). Pairwise comparisons showed differences between the taekwondo Nike (129.48±8.18g) and boxing Green Hills helmets (109.48±10.11g) (d=2.19, 95% CI: –4.98–11.05). The boxing Adidas helmet (75.42±9.99g) recorded a higher RLA than its taekwondo counterpart (d=2.09, 95% CI: −6.67–5.82).
   Conclusions Both boxing and taekwondo helmets have a limited lifespan.

IMPACT ATTENUATION OF PROTECTIVE BOXING AND TAEKWONDO HEADGEAR

1. D O'Sullivan1, 
2. G Fife2, 
3. W Pieter3

5. Abstract

   Background To date, only one study reported the impact attenuation of protective taekwondo headgear. Although Olympic boxing has discontinued the use of headgear, similarities in designs are thought to provide a framework for improvements of taekwondo headgear.
   Objective To determine differences in impact attenuation of taekwondo and boxing headgear.
   Design Between groups.
   Setting Impact biomechanics laboratory.
   Participants World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) approved protective headgear.
   Risk factor assessment A standardized (ASTM F-2397) martial arts headgear striker was used to impart impacts to a 50th Percentile Male Hybrid III Dummy head and neck complex. All impacts were imparted with a terminal striking velocity of 5.0 m/s (min - max=4.75 −5.15m/s). 2 AIBA-approved headgear (Adidas and Green Hills) and 2 WTF-approved headgear were selected for testing. Each headgear model was fitted to the Hybrid III and impacted a total of 5 times to the left side (temporal) of the headgear along an ASTM-specified impact region. As per ASTM standards low velocity impacts must yield head RLAs below 50g.
   Main outcome measurements Resultant linear acceleration (RLA).
   Results 1-way ANOVA showed significant differences between the headgear brands (eta²=0.928). The most protection was provided by the taekwondo Adidas headgear (60.5±4.3g) followed by the boxing Adidas (75.4±9.9g), boxing Greenhill (109.4±10.11g), and taekwondo Nike headgear (129.5±8.2g). The greatest difference in RLA was observed between the two taekwondo models (d=−9.54, 95% CI=−13.91 – −5.18), whereas the smallest clinically meaningful difference was observed between the two Adidas models (d=−1.94, 95% CI=−3.20 – −0.29).
   Conclusions Each of the headgear brands performed differently under the testing conditions. All models need to be redesigned to mitigate low velocity impacts. Future testing must include impacts at high impact velocities.

THE EFFECT OF PROTECTIVE TAEKWONDO FOOTPADS ON ATTENUATING IMPACTS OF AN INSTRUMENTED HEAD-FORM

THE EFFECT OF PROTECTIVE TAEKWONDO FOOTPADS ON ATTENUATING IMPACTS OF AN INSTRUMENTED HEAD-FORM

Abstract

1. G Fife1, 
2. D O'Sullivan2, 
3. W Pieter3, 
4. S Lee1

Background A recent regulation in boxing, of removing headgear, proposes the question as to whether a similar rule should be adopted in taekwondo.

Objective To assess the effect of protective taekwondo footpads on attenuating impacts of an instrumented head-form. It is hypothesised that footpads with greater thickness would mitigate impacts better than thinner ones.

Design Between groups.

Setting Impact biomechanics laboratory.

Participants World Taekwondo Federation approved protective footpads.

Risk factor assessment A standardized (ASTM F-2397) martial arts headgear striker was used to impart impacts to a 50th Percentile Male Hybrid III head and neck complex. All impacts were imparted with a terminal striking velocity of 5.0 m/s (min-max: 4.75–5.15 m/s). Six different striking conditions were employed (no footpad (control), KDS, Adidas, Mooto, Mooto MTX, old style footpad [i.e., thick]). Each footpad condition was tested for a total of 3 impacts. The level of significance was set to an effect size of 0.2.

Main outcome measurements Resultant linear acceleration (RLA).

Results Significant differences were found between all footpads (eta²=0.86). The most effective impact attenuation was provided by the old style footpad (102g), followed by the Adidas (124g), KDS (140g), Mooto (140g), MTX (149g), and non-footpad condition (211g). The greatest difference in RLA was observed between the thick footpad and the non-padded condition (102 g v 211 g, d=2.08, 95% CI=-0.19–3.51).

Conclusions The footpads when compared with the control condition did decrease the RLA but not to an ASTM standard of 50g. These results do not support the removal of protective taekwondo headgear. Future studies may investigate the use of better designed footpads if a similar regulation were to be adopted.