In the most recent installment of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor moderates a panel featuring Dr Enora Le Flao, Dr Elisabeth Williams, and David Powell to explore the realm of ‘smart mouthguards’ in contact sports, with a specific emphasis on the cutting-edge technology used for detecting potential concussions on the sidelines.
The discussion delves into the technological advancements that have facilitated more precise impact measurement and the efficacy of HIA (Head Injury Assessment) protocols. The conversation also broaches the ongoing research on instrumented mouthguards and their potential applicability in other sports, leveraging rugby as a testing ground.
A recent pertinent development in the field is the announcement that World Rugby has mandated the use of instrumented mouthguards for professional teams, representing a significant pivot in the sport toward improved medical support for players involved in collisions. The panel also illuminates the insights from studies conducted on both men’s and women’s rugby teams, scrutinizing potential disparities based on gender and level of experience in the sport.
One of the pivotal takeaways from the dialogue is the necessity for an objective tool in a domain where concussion identification has predominantly been subjective. The experts also underscore the obstacles associated with biomechanical measurement of human motion and the potential for comprehensive assessments to yield more valid and reliable data.
Dr Enora Le Flao, presently affiliated with Ohio State University in the USA, contributes her expertise in mechanical engineering and sports-assured biomechanics to the discussion. Her academic background encompasses a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD centred on employing head-impact sensors to comprehend concussions, particularly among boxers.
Dr Elisabeth Williams, a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Swansea University, leverages her expertise in forensic science and a PhD in the biomechanics of crime scene reconstruction to inform her current research on the biomechanics of head impact in female sports, notably Rugby Union.
David Powell, a PhD candidate at Swansea University, offers his perspective with a mechanical engineering background and a current focus on the utilization of mouthguards in university sport, with an emphasis on enhancing their functionality and reliability.
Audiences of the podcast can conveniently access and download the latest episode on platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn, and have the option to subscribe in order to receive notifications when new episodes are released.
The Experts in Sport podcast continues to serve as a forum that brings together experts from Loughborough University and external thought leaders to engage in conversations concerning the latest research and pertinent subjects in the realms of sport and academia, with new episodes released on a regular basis.