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Anticipation matters: sex differences in head acceleration responses and implications for sport-related concussion

Ivanic, Branimir LU ; Cronström, Anna LU orcid ; Ryan, Nicholas LU orcid 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 a major health concern in contact sports. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers, and anticipatory neck muscle activation may mitigate these forces. Evidence on how anticipation influences head kinematics, and whether sex differences exist, remains limited. This study compared head acceleration between anticipated and unanticipated perturbations and examined potential sex-specific differences.

Materials and Methods
Thirty physically active adults (15 female, 15 male) completed standardized head perturbations in flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation using a custom-built apparatus. Perturbations were... (More)
Introduction
Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a major health concern in contact sports. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers, and anticipatory neck muscle activation may mitigate these forces. Evidence on how anticipation influences head kinematics, and whether sex differences exist, remains limited. This study compared head acceleration between anticipated and unanticipated perturbations and examined potential sex-specific differences.

Materials and Methods
Thirty physically active adults (15 female, 15 male) completed standardized head perturbations in flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation using a custom-built apparatus. Perturbations were delivered under anticipated (pre-activated neck muscles) and unanticipated (masked, relaxed) conditions. Head kinematics were recorded with 3D motion capture. Mixed ANOVA was used to test effects of sex and condition.

Results
Unanticipated perturbations produced significantly greater accelerations than anticipated perturbations across all directions (LHA mean difference ranged from 0.02 to 0.04 g, p<0.001; RHA mean difference ranged from 1.1 to 4.0 rad/s2, p≤0.053). Females exhibited greater RHA than males, particularly during rotation, with higher values in both anticipated (41.7 vs. 37.3 rad/s2; p=0.003) and unanticipated (42.9 vs. 40.0 rad/s2; p=0.052) conditions. No sex differences were observed for LHA.

Conclusion
Anticipatory neck muscle activation reduced both LHA and RHA, supporting its potential role as a protective mechanism against SRC. Females consistently exhibited higher RHA than males, particularly in rotational trials under both anticipated and unanticipated conditions. These findings point to sex-specific differences in head-neck control and underscore the importance for further research to inform tailored SRC prevention strategies. (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.9
project
Exercise interventions to prevent sport-related concussion
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ca6fee27-5ddd-4707-a4ec-b55d0c493fdf
date added to LUP
2026-02-27 14:40:00
date last changed
2026-03-02 10:21:40
@misc{ca6fee27-5ddd-4707-a4ec-b55d0c493fdf,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a major health concern in contact sports. Linear head acceleration (LHA) and rotational head acceleration (RHA) are central biomechanical markers, and anticipatory neck muscle activation may mitigate these forces. Evidence on how anticipation influences head kinematics, and whether sex differences exist, remains limited. This study compared head acceleration between anticipated and unanticipated perturbations and examined potential sex-specific differences.<br/><br/>Materials and Methods<br/>Thirty physically active adults (15 female, 15 male) completed standardized head perturbations in flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation using a custom-built apparatus. Perturbations were delivered under anticipated (pre-activated neck muscles) and unanticipated (masked, relaxed) conditions. Head kinematics were recorded with 3D motion capture. Mixed ANOVA was used to test effects of sex and condition.<br/><br/>Results<br/>Unanticipated perturbations produced significantly greater accelerations than anticipated perturbations across all directions (LHA mean difference ranged from 0.02 to 0.04 g, p&lt;0.001; RHA mean difference ranged from 1.1 to 4.0 rad/s2, p≤0.053). Females exhibited greater RHA than males, particularly during rotation, with higher values in both anticipated (41.7 vs. 37.3 rad/s2; p=0.003) and unanticipated (42.9 vs. 40.0 rad/s2; p=0.052) conditions. No sex differences were observed for LHA.<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>Anticipatory neck muscle activation reduced both LHA and RHA, supporting its potential role as a protective mechanism against SRC. Females consistently exhibited higher RHA than males, particularly in rotational trials under both anticipated and unanticipated conditions. These findings point to sex-specific differences in head-neck control and underscore the importance for further research to inform tailored SRC prevention strategies.}},
  author       = {{Ivanic, Branimir and Cronström, Anna and Ryan, Nicholas 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        = {{Anticipation matters: sex differences in head acceleration responses and implications for sport-related concussion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.9}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.9}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}