title: Biomechanics of concussion.
abstract: The rising awareness of the long-term health problems associated with concussions re-emphasizes the need for understanding the mechanical etiology of concussions. This article reviews past studies defining the common mechanisms for mild traumatic brain injury and summarizes efforts to convert the external input to the head (force, acceleration, and velocity) into estimates of motions and deformations of the brain that occur during mild traumatic brain injury. Studies of how these mechanical conditions contribute to the cellular mechanisms of damage in mild traumatic brain injury are reviewed. Finally, future directions for improving understanding concussion biomechanics are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 240 Skirkanich Hall, 210 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6392, USA. dmeaney@seas.upenn.edu
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Meaney
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology