ArticlePloS one2026
Estimating actual striking forces using attenuation properties of Taekwondo protectors.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundProtectors significantly attenuate impact forces, yet their quantitative characteristics remain poorly understood. While accurately measuring actual striking force is essential for performance evaluation, practical and safety challenges prevent direct measurement on athletes. The protector's attenuation obscures the true impact, necessitating a method to estimate the original force from the attenuated data.
methodsA controllable pendulum-based impact testing apparatus was developed to evaluate force attenuation characteristics of Taekwondo body protectors. The system delivered repeatable impacts across varying magnitudes and contact durations to a mannequin equipped with a protector. Simultaneous measurements of input and transmitted forces through the protector enabled quantification of attenuation ratios under controlled conditions. To demonstrate practical application, five Taekwondo athletes performed standardized kicks on the instrumented protector setup, allowing estimation of their actual striking forces using the derived attenuation factor.
resultsForce attenuation ratios demonstrated high consistency across impact magnitudes ranging from 300 to 5800 Newtons, with impact duration variations showing minimal influence on attenuation performance. Linear attenuation relationships were established between input and transmitted forces ([Formula: see text]), enabling derivation of a predictive attenuation factor. Validation testing with the pendulum system showed that the estimated input force trajectories achieved an nRMSE of 3.5%. Averaged across the entire force range, the MAPE was 4.7% for maximum force, 1.4% for impact duration, and 3.5% for impulse. Applying the attenuation factor to standardized kicks performed by five Taekwondo athletes yielded estimated maximum striking forces ranging from approximately 1300 to 1800 Newtons.
conclusionThis study establishes the first quantitative characterization of impact attenuation in Taekwondo body protectors, providing a validated attenuation factor for estimating striking forces from transmitted forces. These findings demonstrate a practical methodology for quantifying striking forces that are otherwise difficult to measure.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.