| Whiplash is the number 1 soft tissue injury sustained during rear-impact. More than half of the motor vehicle accident claims filed in Canada resulted from whiplash injuries, with the majority occurring during low-speed rear-impact. Although previous impact studies have focused on head movement, the relationship between whiplash injury to the neck and development of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has led to interest in the jaw as well. It is speculated that rapid involuntary opening of the jaw during impact causes damage to the temporomandibular joint leading to TMD. The purpose of this research was to develop a system capable of measuring head and jaw movement during low-speed rear-impact. This was achieved through a strategic arrangement of accelerometers, which were rigidly fixed to the head and jaw with a tooth tray and bracketing system. Prior to impact testing, the system was evaluated during measurement of pure rotation, as well as simultaneous translation and rotation. In all experiments, the accelerometer system's results were verified with high speed cameras. |
