Damage to Real World Equestrian Helmets Sustained from Impact against Different Surfaces

Concussion is one of the most common injuries in equestrian sports. Currently, the majority of the literature in equestrian head impact biomechanics has focused on the performance of helmets to rigid surfaces in order to reduce risk of injury through helmet design. Although there is a risk of sustaining in jury from impacting rigid surfaces in equestrian sport, concussions are more commonly a result of impacts to softer surfaces, such as turf. Little research has been performed to evaluate equestrian helmet’s performance for impacts to turf and, as a result, little is known about how equestrian helmets perform under common accident conditions. Differences in loading conditions have been shown to affect the protective capabilities of helmets, as helmets have been less effective at attenuating energy in impacts against highly compliant surfaces. A better understanding of how different impact surfaces influence equestrian helmet performance in real world accident conditions may provide a more effective strategy for developing a safer riding environment through improved helmet design. One method that can be used to assess helmet performance in real world conditions is to analyze damage sustained by the helmet during an impact. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the influence of impact surface on such damage during real world equestrian accidents.