Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Toe Board Energy Absorbing Material for Foot, Ankle and Lower Leg Injury Reduction.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Toe Board Energy Absorbing Material for Foot, Ankle and Lower Leg Injury Reduction.

Traffic Inj Prev. 2017 Jul 11;:0

Authors: Patalak JP, Stitzel JD

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Since 2000 numerous improvements have been made to the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Incorporated (NASCAR®) driver restraint system, resulting in improved crash protection for motorsports drivers. Advancements have included seats, head and neck restraints (HNR), seat belt restraint systems, driver helmets and others. These enhancements have increased protection for drivers from severe crash loading. Extending protection to the driver's extremities remains challenging. While the drivers' legs are well contained for lateral and vertical crashes, they remain largely unrestrained in frontal and frontal oblique crashes.
METHOD: Sled testing was conducted for the evaluation of an energy absorbing (EA) toe board material to be used as a countermeasure for leg and foot injuries. Testing included baseline rigid toe boards, tests with EA material covered toe boards and pretest positioning of the 50(th) percentile male frontal Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) lower extremities. ATD leg and foot instrumentation included foot acceleration and tibia forces and moments.
RESULTS: The sled test data were evaluated using established injury criteria for tibial plateau fractures, leg shaft fractures and calcaneus, talus, ankle & midfoot fractures.
CONCLUSION: A polyurethane energy absorbing (EA) foam was found to be effective in limiting axial tibia force and foot accelerations when subjected to frontal impacts using the NASCAR motorsport restraint system.

PMID: 28696780 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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