Finite element brain deformation in adolescent soccer heading

Abstract

Finite element (FE) modeling provides a means to examine how global kinematics of repetitive head loading in sports influences tissue level injury metrics. FE simulations of controlled soccer headers in two directions were completed using a human head FE model to estimate biomechanical loading on the brain by direction. Overall, headers were associated with 95th percentile peak maximum principal strains up to 0.07 and von Mises stresses up to 1450 Pa, and oblique headers trended toward higher values than frontal headers but below typical injury levels. These quantitative data provide insight into repetitive loading effects on the brain.

Keywords: Pediatrics; finite element modeling; head impact kinematics; injury biomechanics.

Figure 1.

Frontal and oblique header MPS summarized in box and whisker plots for the brain overall. There were no differences between frontal and oblique header groups for the 50^th (p = 0.207), 90^th (p = 0.402), 95^th (p = 0.541), 99^th (p = 0.377), or 100^th (p = 0.348) percentile of all brain elements. In comparison, injury cases in professional American football resulted in overall 50th, 90th, 95th, 99th, and 100th elemental MPS 50% risk thresholds of 0.12, 0.20, 0.23, 0.28, and 0.41, respectively, based on KTH simulations (Fahlstedt, Meng, and Kleiven 2022).

Figure 2.

Frontal and oblique header von Mises stress summarized in box and whisker plots for the brain overall. There were no differences between frontal and oblique header groups for the 50^th (p = 0.186), 90^th (p = 0.349), 95^th (p = 0.393), 99^th (p = 0.223), or 100^th (p = 0.090) percentile of all brain elements.

Figure 3.

Frontal and oblique headers did not differ in average 95th percentile MPS; however, oblique headers had higher variance than frontal headers (p < 0.030).

Figure 4.

Frontal and oblique headers did not differ in average 95^th percentile von Mises stress; however, oblique headers had higher variance than frontal headers (p < 0.018).

Figure 5.

Frontal and oblique header MPS summarized in box and whisker plots for each of the 8 brain regions. MPS was higher for oblique headers in the cerebellum (p < 0.001), but there were no differences in any other brain region (p > 0.086). *p < 0.00625.

Figure 6.

Frontal and oblique header von Mises stress summarized in box and whisker plots for each of the 8 brain regions. Von Mises stress was higher for oblique headers in the cerebellum (p < 0.001), but there were no differences in any other brain region (p > 0.089). *p < 0.00625.