Head Acceleration Events in Collegiate Rodeo Athletes.

Abstract

Repetitive head impacts in sports have been of increasing concern due to their potential impact on long-term brain health. Despite this recognition, head impacts have rarely been investigated in the sport of rodeo. This study tracked and characterized head acceleration events (HAEs) experienced by collegiate rodeo athletes in the roughstock events of Bareback, Saddle Bronc, and Bull Riding. Instrumented mouthguards were used to track HAEs in 13 Bareback, Saddle Bronc, and Bull Riding athletes at National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA)-sanctioned competitions. HAEs were subsequently video verified and categorized based on the cause of HAE. A total of 112 rides were monitored across five collegiate rodeo competitions capturing 344 HAEs. Bareback was associated with the highest frequency of HAEs of the three events but the lowest median linear acceleration. The most common mechanism of HAE across the events was whiplash, rather than direct head contact. Collegiate rodeo athletes in Bareback, Saddle Bronc, and Bull Riding experience significant HAEs throughout a rodeo season that varies based on event and mechanism of HAE.