Bioengineering Study of Basic Physical Measurements Related to Susceptibility to Cervical Hyperextension-Hyperflexion Injury

Basic physical characteristics of the neck which may influence a person's susceptibility to "whiplash" injury during rear-end collisions have been defined using 180 human volunteer subjects chosen, on the basis of sex, age (18-74 years), and stature, to be representative of the U.S. adult population. Measurements from each subject included anthropometry, cervical range of motion from both x-rays and photographs, and the dynamic response and isometric strength of the neck flexor and extensor muscles. Summary data for key measurements are discussed in the text; complete summaries for each measure are in four appendices. The results were used to develop a method of predicting dynamic muscle force from isometric EMG data, and to examine injury susceptibility for various population groups using a biomechanical model. The data are presented in a format usable in the design of biomechanical models, anthropometric dummies, and occupant crash protection devices. Experimental and modeling results suggest that the neck muscles can influence neck dynamic response to varying degrees for different population groups. Aging and sexual differences in cervical mobility, reflex time, and muscle strength were all found to be important factors in injury susceptibility.

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