title: Effects of Olympic-style taekwondo kicks on an instrumented head-form and resultant injury measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the effect of taekwondo kicks and peak foot velocity (FVEL) on resultant head linear acceleration (RLA), head injury criterion (HIC15) and head velocity (HVEL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Each subject (n=12) randomly performed five repetitions of the turning kick (TK), clench axe kick (CA), front leg axe kick, jump back kick (JB) and jump spinning hook kick (JH) at the average standing head height for competitors in their weight division. A Hybrid II Crash Test Dummy head was fitted with a protective taekwondo helmet and instrumented with a triaxial accelerometer and fixed to a height-adjustable frame. Resultant head linear acceleration, HVEL, FVEL data were captured and processed using Qualysis Track Manager.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TK (130.11 ± 51.67 g) produced a higher RLA than the CA (54.95 ± 20.08 g, p<0.001, d=1.84) and a higher HIC15 than the JH (672.74 ± 540.89 vs 300.19 ± 144.35, p<0.001, ES=0.97). There was no difference in HVEL of the TK (4.73 ± 1.67 m/s) and that of the JB (4.43 ± 0.78 m/s; p=0.977, ES<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TK is of concern because it is the most common technique and cause of concussion in taekwondo. Future studies should aim to understand rotational accelerations of the head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gabriel P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Fife
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pieter
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000293:injuries*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation; D055815:Young Adult