Evaluating Advanced Impact Mitigation Technologies for Concussion Risk Reduction in Youth Cycling Helmets
Abstract
The efficacy of advanced cycling helmet technologies under youth-specific impact conditions remains unclear. We evaluated how helmet technologies affect head kinematics and concussion risk and whether helmet deformation and helmet-headform relative rotation contribute to protection. Six youth bicycle helmet technologies were tested, including two conventional EPS controls (FOAM-A, FOAM-B) and four advanced technologies (CELL, SLIP, SLIDE, HYDRAULIC). Helmeted headforms were impacted at three locations using a 25 degree anvil at 2.9 m/s, and a 45 degree anvil at 5.2 m/s. Peak linear acceleration (PLA), peak rotational acceleration (PRA), and YGAMBIT-predicted concussion risk were quantified. Stereo high-speed videography measured anvil-normal headform displacement to approximate helmet deformation, and helmet-headform relative rotation. Helmet technology significantly affected predicted concussion risk under both conditions. At 2.9 m/s, all advanced technologies reduced risk relative to FOAM-A, while only SLIDE and HYDRAULIC reduced risk relative to FOAM-B. At 5.2 m/s, all advanced technologies reduced risk relative to both foam controls. HYDRAULIC produced the lowest risk in both conditions, reducing mean risk by 94-95% and 77-78% relative to the foam controls at 2.9 and 5.2 m/s, respectively. CELL, SLIP, and SLIDE significantly reduced PRA across both conditions, whereas HYDRAULIC significantly reduced both PLA and PRA. Greater anvil-normal headform displacement was associated with lower PLA, and greater relative rotation with lower PRA; both independently contributed to lower predicted concussion risk. Advanced technologies in youth cycling helmets can reduce youth concussion risk, but effectiveness depends on impact condition and mitigation mechanism. Designs maximizing controlled helmet deformation and rotational decoupling may provide robust protection in youth-relevant impacts.
Related
- Bi-stable Nonlinear Energy Sinks (BNESs) for Response Mitigation and Drag Reduction of Subsea Cables Undergoing Vortex-induced Vibrations
- Quantum error mitigation simulates general non-Hermitian dynamics
- LES-derived turbulence tank optical propagation with numerical adaptive-optics modeling: quantifying OAM modal crosstalk and mitigation
- Scalable Megapixel resolution Solid-State LiDAR architecture by Dual-MEMS coarse-fine Diffractive Beam Steering with Crosstalk Mitigation
- Foreground Characterization and Mitigation in the Observations of the CD/EoR with the SKA
BibTeX
@misc{towns2026evaluating,
title = {{Evaluating Advanced Impact Mitigation Technologies for Concussion Risk Reduction in Youth Cycling Helmets}},
author = {Jessica A Towns and Fady F Abayazid and Gerald A Grant and David B Camarillo and Nicholas J Cecchi},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.39885},
eprint = {2609.39885},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.39885},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Evaluating Advanced Impact Mitigation Technologies for Concussion Risk Reduction in Youth Cycling Helmets
AU - Jessica A Towns
AU - Fady F Abayazid
AU - Gerald A Grant
AU - David B Camarillo
AU - Nicholas J Cecchi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.39885
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.39885
AB - The efficacy of advanced cycling helmet technologies under youth-specific impact conditions remains unclear. We evaluated how helmet technologies affect head kinematics and concussion risk and whether helmet deformation and helmet-headform relative rotation contribute to protection. Six youth bicycle helmet technologies were tested, including two conventional EPS controls (FOAM-A, FOAM-B) and four advanced technologies (CELL, SLIP, SLIDE, HYDRAULIC). Helmeted headforms were impacted at three locations using a 25 degree anvil at 2.9 m/s, and a 45 degree anvil at 5.2 m/s. Peak linear acceleration (PLA), peak rotational acceleration (PRA), and YGAMBIT-predicted concussion risk were quantified. Stereo high-speed videography measured anvil-normal headform displacement to approximate helmet deformation, and helmet-headform relative rotation. Helmet technology significantly affected predicted concussion risk under both conditions. At 2.9 m/s, all advanced technologies reduced risk relative to FOAM-A, while only SLIDE and HYDRAULIC reduced risk relative to FOAM-B. At 5.2 m/s, all advanced technologies reduced risk relative to both foam controls. HYDRAULIC produced the lowest risk in both conditions, reducing mean risk by 94-95% and 77-78% relative to the foam controls at 2.9 and 5.2 m/s, respectively. CELL, SLIP, and SLIDE significantly reduced PRA across both conditions, whereas HYDRAULIC significantly reduced both PLA and PRA. Greater anvil-normal headform displacement was associated with lower PLA, and greater relative rotation with lower PRA; both independently contributed to lower predicted concussion risk. Advanced technologies in youth cycling helmets can reduce youth concussion risk, but effectiveness depends on impact condition and mitigation mechanism. Designs maximizing controlled helmet deformation and rotational decoupling may provide robust protection in youth-relevant impacts.
ER -