Journal article
The Effect of Wearing a Restrictive Neck Brace on Driver Performance
Neurosurgery, Vol.53(1), pp.98-102
07/01/2003
DOI: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000068703.08923.40
PMID: 12823878
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Thousands of Americans are prescribed cervical orthoses each year. These orthoses restrict motion, which may influence the patient's driving performance. No legal restrictions exist that prohibit patients from wearing cervical orthoses while driving. No study addressing this issue has been published to date. Thus, we sought to assess the effects of wearing a restrictive neck brace on driver performance on the open road. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized block design study in 23 volunteers. Twenty-three adult licensed drivers from the state of Iowa were recruited. Evaluation of neck motion was performed with and without the rigid cervical orthosis. On-road performance testing was conducted with the use of a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory. Drivers were randomly assigned to one of two testing groups. Each driver was evaluated during two separate drives. Volunteers in Group A (n = 11) wore a neck brace for the first drive but not during the second. Participants in Group B (n = 12) did not wear a neck brace in the first drive but did for the second. The assessment included velocity, acceleration, cervical axial rotation, and evaluation of the driver's blind spot. RESULTS: Driving performance measures were collected and analyzed for both drives. Wearing a cervical orthosis resulted in decreased velocity (P < 0.05), decreased lateral acceleration (P < 0.05), decreased axial rotation (P < 0.05), inadequate evaluation of intersection traffic, and an increase in the blind spot. CONCLUSION: A rigid cervical orthosis alters driver performance.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Effect of Wearing a Restrictive Neck Brace on Driver Performance
- Creators
- Christopher J. Barry - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsDarin Smith - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsPeter Lennarson - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsJulie Jermeland - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsWarren Darling - University of IowaLaura Stierman - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsMatthew Rizzo - University of IowaVincent C. Traynelis - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neurosurgery, Vol.53(1), pp.98-102
- DOI
- 10.1227/01.NEU.0000068703.08923.40
- PMID
- 12823878
- ISSN
- 0148-396X
- eISSN
- 1524-4040
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2003
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Health and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984259389902771
Metrics
6 Record Views