Neck brace design and fit are linked to head mobility

Karting can lead to head impact and cervical spine injuries. To mitigate the risks, drivers wear neck braces. However, little is known of their efficacy and little information is available to help drivers select the optimal neck brace. This study aimed to measure the head mobility and drivers’ field of view associated with six different neck brace models and the correlations between neck brace design and fitting and mobility. The head mobility of twenty volunteers seated in a kart was measured in the three anatomical planes using an optoelectronic system. The anterior and posterior gaps between the neck braces and helmet were measured. Finally, the neck braces were put on an anthropometric dummy and measurements were taken on the neck brace at points of contact between the neck brace and the helmet. All neck braces reduced the head mobility with axial rotation being the least restricted direction. Only the soft neck braces influenced the field of view. The mobility in lateral bending and extension were strongly correlated to the neck brace design (Pearson R Coefficient of 0.997 and 0.96). The posterior gap was also correlated to extension mobility. Therefore, neck brace design and fitting can both be used to select the correct neck brace model or size depending on the driver’s morphology.