- Email: [email protected]
The Effectiveness of Jockey Safety Equipment in Falls
Injury 3 – Automotive Collision Associated Injury. 14:15, Room 102,
Presentation 0761
S133
The Effectiveness of Jockey Safety Equipment in Falls Dr. T. Gibson K. Thai Human Impact Engineering, Sydney, Australia Dr J. Saxon Dr. C. Foote
Professional jockeys are commonly injured in falls to the track during thoroughbred racing. While Australian riders are required to wear protective helmets, and body protectors (vests), little work has been done to assess the effectiveness of these safety measures. The insurance data for jockeys involved in racing and track work was investigated to find out the prevalence and severity of injuries. A biomechanical analysis of 17 jockey falls was conducted to investigate the injury mechanisms in racing falls. Data collected for each fall included video footage, injuries obtained from interview with the jockey and the helmet where available. The video footage was used to obtain estimates of the fall velocity or height, the nature of the impacting surfaces and the impacted body regions. Of these cases, there were 39 individual injuries recorded. Of these, 7 were head injuries (2 of which were fatal), 5 facial injuries, 6 injuries to the neck, 8 to the back or spine, 2 to the shoulder or clavicle and 3 chest injuries. There were three main injury-producing fall modes observed, including a forward dive into the track as the horse stumbles; a fall off the side of the horse whilst holding onto the reins; and when the rider is butted into the air or thrown from the horse. In some cases, the rider was trampled or crushed by a fallen horse after impacting the track. The impact velocities observed were in the order of 30 to 50 kph, from heights of up to 3.5 metres. Analysis of the falls and the associated injuries demonstrated that while there was no indication of the protective equipment increasing the likelihood of injury, the level of protection offered to riders could be improved. In particular the helmet standard requires a dual-level impact requirement to cover concussion-level impacts as well as severe falls. A need for a face guard to reduce facial injuries was also demonstrated. The level of energy absorption offered by current standard body protectors was also found to be inadequate in protecting against rib fracture.
XXI ISB Congress, Podium Sessions, Monday 2 July 2007
Journal of Biomechanics 40(S2)
Presentation 0761
S133
The Effectiveness of Jockey Safety Equipment in Falls Dr. T. Gibson K. Thai Human Impact Engineering, Sydney, Australia Dr J. Saxon Dr. C. Foote
Professional jockeys are commonly injured in falls to the track during thoroughbred racing. While Australian riders are required to wear protective helmets, and body protectors (vests), little work has been done to assess the effectiveness of these safety measures. The insurance data for jockeys involved in racing and track work was investigated to find out the prevalence and severity of injuries. A biomechanical analysis of 17 jockey falls was conducted to investigate the injury mechanisms in racing falls. Data collected for each fall included video footage, injuries obtained from interview with the jockey and the helmet where available. The video footage was used to obtain estimates of the fall velocity or height, the nature of the impacting surfaces and the impacted body regions. Of these cases, there were 39 individual injuries recorded. Of these, 7 were head injuries (2 of which were fatal), 5 facial injuries, 6 injuries to the neck, 8 to the back or spine, 2 to the shoulder or clavicle and 3 chest injuries. There were three main injury-producing fall modes observed, including a forward dive into the track as the horse stumbles; a fall off the side of the horse whilst holding onto the reins; and when the rider is butted into the air or thrown from the horse. In some cases, the rider was trampled or crushed by a fallen horse after impacting the track. The impact velocities observed were in the order of 30 to 50 kph, from heights of up to 3.5 metres. Analysis of the falls and the associated injuries demonstrated that while there was no indication of the protective equipment increasing the likelihood of injury, the level of protection offered to riders could be improved. In particular the helmet standard requires a dual-level impact requirement to cover concussion-level impacts as well as severe falls. A need for a face guard to reduce facial injuries was also demonstrated. The level of energy absorption offered by current standard body protectors was also found to be inadequate in protecting against rib fracture.
XXI ISB Congress, Podium Sessions, Monday 2 July 2007
Journal of Biomechanics 40(S2)