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Head acceleration magnitudes in sport-related concussion: systematic review and meta-analysis with over 2.3 million recorded impacts

Ivanic, Branimir LU ; Cronström, Anna LU orcid ; Rasi, Mana LU and Ageberg, Eva LU orcid (2026) Scandinavian Sports Medicine Congress 2026 In BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 12(Suppl 1).
Abstract
Introduction
Sport-related concussion (SRC) is one of the most common and concerning injuries in team sports, with potential long-term effects on athlete health and performance. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers of brain loading during impact. Yet, the magnitude of these accelerations during SRC events remains poorly synthesized across sports, age groups, and sexes.

Materials and Methods
This review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024584070). MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were searched (September 2024). Studies reporting LHA or RHA in diagnosed SRCs were included. Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses... (More)
Introduction
Sport-related concussion (SRC) is one of the most common and concerning injuries in team sports, with potential long-term effects on athlete health and performance. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers of brain loading during impact. Yet, the magnitude of these accelerations during SRC events remains poorly synthesized across sports, age groups, and sexes.

Materials and Methods
This review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024584070). MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were searched (September 2024). Studies reporting LHA or RHA in diagnosed SRCs were included. Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses (sport, age, sex, session) were performed.

Results
Thirty studies comprising 3262 athletes (12% female) and >2.3 million recorded head impacts, including 465 SRCs, were analysed. SRC impacts demonstrated ~140% higher LHA and ~135% higher RHA than subconcussive events, corresponding to mean differences of +37.5g and +2544 rad/s2. Pooled mean peak values for SRC impacts were 72.0g (LHA) and 4630 rad/s2 (RHA). Subgroup analyses showed highest LHA in American football (83.2g), males (78.2g), and high school athletes (88.3g), while rugby exhibited the highest RHA (7627 rad/s2). Both LHA and RHA tended to be higher during games than practices.

Conclusion
Across >2.3 million impacts, SRC events were associated with substantially greater head acceleration magnitudes than subconcussive impacts, with large variations across sport, sex, age, and session. These findings highlight the need for standardized measurement approaches and broader inclusion of underrepresented populations to strengthen SRC prevention and athlete safety. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
volume
12
issue
Suppl 1
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
conference name
Scandinavian Sports Medicine Congress 2026
conference location
Copenhagen, Denmark
conference dates
2026-01-29 - 2026-01-31
ISSN
2055-7647
DOI
10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.7
project
Exercise interventions to prevent sport-related concussion
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
21627b62-9663-4058-8441-9f7aa7128c96
date added to LUP
2026-02-27 14:34:25
date last changed
2026-03-02 10:09:07
@misc{21627b62-9663-4058-8441-9f7aa7128c96,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>Sport-related concussion (SRC) is one of the most common and concerning injuries in team sports, with potential long-term effects on athlete health and performance. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers of brain loading during impact. Yet, the magnitude of these accelerations during SRC events remains poorly synthesized across sports, age groups, and sexes.<br/><br/>Materials and Methods<br/>This review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024584070). MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were searched (September 2024). Studies reporting LHA or RHA in diagnosed SRCs were included. Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses (sport, age, sex, session) were performed.<br/><br/>Results<br/>Thirty studies comprising 3262 athletes (12% female) and &gt;2.3 million recorded head impacts, including 465 SRCs, were analysed. SRC impacts demonstrated ~140% higher LHA and ~135% higher RHA than subconcussive events, corresponding to mean differences of +37.5g and +2544 rad/s2. Pooled mean peak values for SRC impacts were 72.0g (LHA) and 4630 rad/s2 (RHA). Subgroup analyses showed highest LHA in American football (83.2g), males (78.2g), and high school athletes (88.3g), while rugby exhibited the highest RHA (7627 rad/s2). Both LHA and RHA tended to be higher during games than practices.<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>Across &gt;2.3 million impacts, SRC events were associated with substantially greater head acceleration magnitudes than subconcussive impacts, with large variations across sport, sex, age, and session. These findings highlight the need for standardized measurement approaches and broader inclusion of underrepresented populations to strengthen SRC prevention and athlete safety.}},
  author       = {{Ivanic, Branimir and Cronström, Anna and Rasi, Mana and Ageberg, Eva}},
  issn         = {{2055-7647}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Conference Abstract}},
  number       = {{Suppl 1}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine}},
  title        = {{Head acceleration magnitudes in sport-related concussion: systematic review and meta-analysis with over 2.3 million recorded impacts}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.7}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.7}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}