Tackle project logo

The tackle is responsible for the majority of injuries in elite rugby union, with injuries to the head common. Concussions are the most frequent injury, constituting 25% of all match injuries in the top tier of the professional game. An excellent surveillance system is in place within Rugby Union. Head injury events are monitored using video and pitch-side assessments. This provides an opportunity to investigate the risk factors in tackles that make significant brain injury more likely and how they relate to a range of neurological events that can be produced following head injuries. ​

In this study, we aim to calculate player velocities and impact locations from video footage. This will provide the input to computational modelling of the impact kinematics and brain effects. Our goal is to understand which impacts are likely to lead to problematic neurological effects and to use this information to reduce concussion risk.​

The pipeline of vieo analysis and of the computation simulation of rugby tackles, and the Strain and Strain rate contours within the brain calculated in different neck joint conditions.

WCB18 Abstract

WCB18 AbstractPlay video
Studying Traumatic Brain Injuries in Contact Sport

Endorsed by:

England Rugby Logo

Project workflow

We model strain in the brain caused by real-life sporting impacts and link the findings with clinical markers of brain injury.

We use Finite Element modelling to see how different linear and angular head acceleration affects the strain on the brain during an impact.

Biomechanical simulation

We use Finite Element modelling to see how different linear and angular head acceleration affects the strain on the brain during an impact.

Sporting injury case studies

Ice hockey players can be injured by each other and the equipment they use. In this case, we modelled an impact between a player’s head and a puck.

Sporting injury case studies

We modelled the brains strain for an injured ice hockey player who was involved in a shoulder-to-head impact with another player.

Head of Group

Dr Mazdak Ghajari
Reader in Brain Biomechanics, Dyson School of Design Engineering

Contact us

For queries, please contact Mazdak Ghajari:

Opportunities

If you are interested in the work we do and are interested in postgraduate (PhD) or postdoctoral research, you can find more information about scholarships and fellowships below:

We are also interested in Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme applicants.

Please get in touch with Mazdak Ghajari in the first instance if interested in applying.

Project Lead:

Mr Gus Zimmerman
Research Technician and PhD Candidate, C3NL Lab, Department of Medicine