Validation Of A Novel Mouthguard For Measurement Of Linear And Rotational Accelerations During Head Impacts

Cadaveric and animal studies have sought to characterize this mechanism, including relative contributions of linear and rotational accelerations of the head. Methods for measuring head impacts have included laboratory reconstruction of concussive events and utilization of instrumented helmets. This study seeks to validate the use of an instrumented mouthguard (MG) to measure head impacts in vivo. Three instrumented MGs (X2Impact, Seattle) were individually placed and secured with an adjustable mandible in a helmeted headform of similar dimensions as a Hybrid III anthropometric headform. Linear accelerometers and gyroscopes were mounted at the head's center of gravity (CG). Analysis showed strong correlations for PLA (r2 = .9374 + or - .0047), PRV (r2 = .9663 + or - .0026), and PRA (r2 = .8822 + or - .0086). Slopes of linear regressions were .976 + or - .009 for PLA, .988 + or - .007 for PRV, and 1.039 + or - .014 for PRA.