Clinical biomechanics
-
Clinical biomechanics · Nov 2004
Clinical TrialCervical muscle response to posterolateral impacts--effect of head rotation.
Rear impacts may be offset, and may also occur with the head rotated at impact. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of the cervical muscles to increasing low-velocity rear impacts offset by 45 degrees to the subject's right, but also with the head rotated either right or left. ⋯ Head rotation in a right posterolateral impact modifies the cervical response mainly by generating an asymmetry in the paired sternocleidomastoid electromyograms. This may asymmetrically affect the risk of injury to the sternocleidomastoids. An understanding of the muscular response to rear-impacts of different types and the effect of head rotation at the time of impact is relevant to understanding the mechanism of acute whiplash injury and may be helpful to develop targeted treatments and preventative measures.