# Computational Modelling of Protected and Unprotected Head Impacts in Rugby

## TL;DR

This study uses simulations to show that a new rugby headguard can reduce head impact forces by up to 70%.

## Contribution

The novel foam headguard N-Pro is shown to significantly reduce head accelerations and brain tissue stress in rugby impacts.

## Key findings

- The N-Pro headguard reduced peak head accelerations by up to 70% compared to unprotected impacts.
- Brain tissue stress and strain responses were also significantly attenuated with the N-Pro headguard.

## Abstract

This study involved the simulation of five real-world head impact events in rugby, to assess the level of protection provided by a novel foam headguard, the N-Pro. The University College Dublin Brain Trauma Model (UCDBTM) was used to estimate the peak resultant head accelerations and brain tissue responses in different head impact scenarios. The input kinematics were obtained from two sources: video analysis of impact events, and real-time data obtained through instrumented mouthguards. The impact events were simulated under both unprotected and protected conditions. All simulations were performed against a rigid, non-compliant surface model. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the significant potential of the N-Pro in reducing peak head accelerations and brain tissue stress/strain responses by up to c. 70% compared to unprotected head impacts. This study highlights the headguard’s promising potential to reduce the severity of impact-related injuries by effectively attenuating stresses and strains, as well as linear and rotational kinematics. Additionally, the study supports the recommendation in the literature that kinematic data collected from wearable sensors should be supplemented by video analysis to improve accident reconstructions.