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Cited by 344Automotive and Human Injury BiomechanicsTraumatic Brain Injury ResearchMartial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education

Biomechanics of the head for Olympic boxer punches to the face

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Walilko, T J, Viano, D C, Bir, C A·2005·British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.2004.014126PMC PMC1725037
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Abstract

Objective:The biomechanics of the head for punches to the jaw and the risk of head injury from translational and rotational acceleration were studied. Methods:Seven Olympic boxers from five weight classes delivered 18 straight punches to the frangible face of the Hybrid III dummy. Translational and rotational head acceleration, neck responses, and jaw pressure distribution were measured. High speed video recorded each blow and was used to determine punch velocity. Equilibrium was used to determine punch force, energy transfer, and power. Results:Punch force averaged 3427 (standard deviation (SD) 811) N, hand velocity 9.14 (SD 2.06) m/s, and effective punch mass 2.9 (SD 2.0) kg. Punch force was higher for the heavier weight classes, due primarily to a higher effective mass of the punch. Jaw load was 876 (SD 288) N. The peak translational acceleration was 58 (SD 13)g, rotational acceleration was 6343 (SD 1789) rad/s 2, and neck shear was 994 (SD 318) N. Conclusions:Olympic boxers deliver straight punches with high impact velocity and energy transfer. The severity of the punch increases with weight class.

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  • A hook can be the most damaging of all the punches as the impact is transmitted across the opponent's head or body.

    “Consequently, a hook can be the most damaging of all the punches as the impact is transmitted across the opponent's head or body (49).”

    From The Role of Strength on Punch Impact Force in Boxing (2022) · cites this paper as [49]

    The background passage labeled Abstract (page unavailable) reports higher head acceleration for a left hook than for a left jab in a study it discusses. That supports a limited comparison, but the cited paper’s own experiment tested straight punches, not hooks. It does not establish that hooks can be the most damaging of all punches or explain their impact as being transmitted across the opponent’s head or body. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Previously, researchers have primarily focused on the resultant punch impact force characteristics of elite boxers, with fewer studies investigating the contributing role of force production from the lower- and upper-body.

    “Previously, researchers have primarily focused on the resultant punch impact force characteristics of elite boxers (3,32,40,41,49), with fewer studies investigating the contributing role of force production from the lower- and upper-body (12).”

    From The Role of Strength on Punch Impact Force in Boxing (2022) · cites this paper as [49]

  • In boxers, body mass is associated with punch impact force.

    “Moreover, the association between body mass and punch impact force in boxers has been previously reported in the literature (27,41,49).”

    From The Role of Strength on Punch Impact Force in Boxing (2022) · cites this paper as [49]

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Research works printed but not linked: 27

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Walilko, T. J., Viano, D. C., & Bir, C. A.
Affiliations
Wayne State University (US)
Corresponding author
Viano, D C
ORCID
Bir, C A
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2005-09-23
Volume
39
Issue
10
Pages
710-719
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
DOI
10.1136/bjsm.2004.014126
PMC
PMC1725037
OpenAlex
W2143826005
Cited by
344
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 14
FWCI
4.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Automotive and Human Injury Biomechanics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education
Keywords
boxing, traumatic brain injury, linear acceleration, angular acceleration, Hybrid III headform, punch force, weight class, impact velocity, energy transfer
MeSH terms
Acceleration, Analysis of Variance, Biomechanical Phenomena, Body Weight, Boxing, Facial Injuries, Craniocerebral Trauma, Head Protective Devices, Humans, Jaw, Kinetics, Risk Factors, Rotation

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