Pneumatic Boxing Glove Reduces Upward Drift in Peak Force and Loading Rate over a Long Series of Impacts
Suitability of the pneumatic gloves for
field use will depend not just on their immediate protectiveness but also on
their robustness in the face of multiple impacts. Previous studies have shown
that compared to conventional boxing gloves, a pneumatic boxing glove with a
bladder capable of air exchange with the external environment can substantially
reduce peak impact forces delivered to a target, and provide even greater
reduction in peak rate of force development.
In this study, a
conventional boxing glove and a prototype pneumatic glove were each fitted to a
mechanical fist and dropped 253 times from a height of 3 metres on to a force
plate covered by an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mat. Impact dynamics were measured
and modelled.
From the outset,
peak impact force and peak rate of force development (loading rate) were lower
for the pneumatic glove. For both gloves, these variables displayed upward
drift during the drop series, but the drift was smaller for the pneumatic
glove. Consequently, the magnitude of the protective effect provided by the
pneumatic glove increased with the number of impacts.
For the
conventional glove, change in peak force showed a close inverse relationship to
force plate contact time (R2 > 0.96) and the time from
first contact of the glove with the force plate to attainment of peak force (R2 = 0.85).
These relationships were much weaker for the pneumatic glove (R2 = 0.09
and 0.59 respectively), suggesting the possibility of a more complex impact
damping mechanism. Following the 253 drops of the pneumatic glove, the EVA mat
covering the force plate was replaced, and another 10 drops then performed.
Peak force readings were immediately reduced to an extent suggesting that
26% - 34% of the increase that had occurred over the 253 drops was
attributable to impact-induced change in mat properties. This has implications
for future experimental designs.
In conclusion, pneumatic
boxing gloves of the type used in our experiment show considerable promise as
one means to enable safer boxing. Their effectiveness in damping impacts
exceeds that of conventional gloves. They retain structural integrity after a
long series of high-energy impacts. Although they do not prevent some upward
drift of peak impact forces and peak rates of force development in response to
numerous impacts, the drift is less than that seen with conventional gloves.
Article by Paul
Perkins, et al, from Australia.
Full access: http://t.cn/E4MFK6s
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