This project is the final-year major project I have been working on at Brunel.
Concussion (a minor traumatic brain injury caused by an impact to the head or upper body) is now the most common injury in rugby. Professionals have medical teams on hand watching every player to diagnose a concussion, however amateur rugby players do not have this luxury - meaning the majority of concussions in amateur rugby go undiagnosed.
Undiagnosed concussions can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and in some cases the fatal second impact syndrome. This project culminated in a new diagnosis experience in amateur rugby; using accelerometers in headwear to measure and record impacts imparted to the head during a rugby match, allowing them to be reviewed following the game for a potentially concussive injury.
Below are some photos of the process and some photos of the developed prototypes:
Supported by the Dave Granshaw Foundation.