Modeling Handball-Induced Head Injuries: Developing a Model of a Handball for Evaluating Concussion Risk and the Effectiveness of Protective Gear for Handball Players

Abstract

Concussions are a major problem in many sports, and handball is no exception. While some efforts have been made to reduce the prevalence of concussions, the risks remain high, with several cases of players ending their careers in their early twenties due to repeated concussions. Despite this, players are not allowed any form of head gear or other protection by the International Handball Federation rule set. This thesis developed an explicit Finite Element handball model for LS Dyna based on coupon material test data and dynamic impact test data. The risk of concussion for a handball player was then estimated by modeling ball-to-head contacts using the new ball model and a state-of-the-art Human Body Model (HBM), the VIVA+, and the Injury Risk Function (IRF) DAMAGE. The use of HBM and IRF in quantifying concussion risks is a well-established methodology, particularly in the automotive industry. The standing average male VIVA+ model was used, modified to contain only head and neck, constrained at the lower neck. Four impact scenarios at 110km/h were simulated, where results were used to quantify mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) risk for each scenario. Two of these impact scenarios were tested under varying coefficients of friction between ball and head, with and without a foam sliding layer, representing an abstraction of head protective gear. The risk of mTBI was estimated to 10 - 35% without headgear. With headgear, the results indicate that a substantial reduction of up to 25% for head-on impacts and 50% for lateral impacts in mTBI risk can be achieved with the appropriate headgear design.