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Observational Study
. 2019 Jul;22(7):784-789.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.02.004. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

An assessment of the utility and functionality of wearable head impact sensors in Australian Football

Andrew S McIntosh  1 , Catherine Willmott  2 , Declan A Patton  3 , Biswadev Mitra  4 , James H Brennan  5 , Bleydy Dimech-Betancourt  2 , Teresa S Howard  6 , Jeffrey V Rosenfeld  7
Affiliations
Observational Study

An assessment of the utility and functionality of wearable head impact sensors in Australian Football

Andrew S McIntosh et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the utility and functionality of the X-Patch® as a measurement tool to study head impact exposure in Australian Football. Accuracy, precision, reliability and validity were examined.

Designs: Laboratory tests and prospective observational study.

Methods: Laboratory tests on X-Patch® were undertaken using an instrumented Hybrid III head and neck and linear impactor. Differences between X-Patch® and reference data were analysed. Australian Football players wore the X-Patch® devices and games were video-recorded. Video recordings were analysed qualitatively for head impact events and these were correlated with X-Patch® head acceleration events. Wearability of the X-Patch® was assessed using the Comfort Rating Scale for Wearable Computers.

Results: Laboratory head impacts, performed at multiple impact sites and velocities, identified significant correlations between headform-measured and device-measured kinematic parameters (p<0.05 for all). On average, the X-Patch®-recorded peak linear acceleration (PLA) was 17% greater than the reference PLA, 28% less for peak rotational acceleration (PRA) and 101% greater for the Head Injury Criterion (HIC). For video analysis, 118 head acceleration events (HAE) were included with PLA ≥30g across 53 players. Video recordings of X-Patch®-measured HAEs (PLA ≥30g) determined that 31.4% were direct head impacts, 9.3% were indirect impacts, 44.1% were unknown or unclear and 15.3% were neither direct nor indirect head impacts. The X-Patch® system was deemed wearable by 95-100% of respondents.

Conclusions: This study reinforces evidence that use of the current X-Patch® devices should be limited to research only and in conjunction with video analysis.

Keywords: Australian Football; Concussion; Head impact biomechanics; Sports injury; Wearable sensors.

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