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Description:
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Introduction : Head injury is common in many sports , but it is of particular concern in professional rodeo events . Rough stock events (bareback , saddle bronc , and bull riding ) provide multiple opportunities for injury . Head injuries sustained during a rough stock event may be the result of whiplash effects or impact with the animal . Although there are a few recent studies investigating the incidence of head injury in rodeo events , little is known about the acceleration profile experienced by the riders .
Methods : This study was conducted at the 2007 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo . Two subjects were enrolled : one bull rider and one bareback rider . The subjects were fitted with custom -molded accelerometers and a waist mounted data recorder . The head accelerations experienced during the subjects scheduled rodeo events were then measured and recorded . The motions of the riders were also captured on video .
Results : This study demonstrated the ability to record both the magnitude and direction of the head accelerations experienced . Data were obtained from both subjects and revealed significant accelerations in all axes , particularly the z -axis . The maximum resultant acceleration for the bull rider was 258 m /s2 (26 gs ) , while the bareback rider experienced a greater magnitude acceleration of 450 m /s2 (46 gs ) .
Conclusions : Head accelerations experienced by rough stock riders are high in magnitude and have the potential to result in injury . Further studies of accelerations experienced during actual rough stock events are needed . |