© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 7: Selecting and Using Protective Equipment Objectives: –Students will be able to identify.

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Chapter 7: Selecting and Using Protective Equipment

• Objectives:– Students will be able to identify why it is

important to properly select and fit protective equipment.

– Students will be able to describe the necessary steps to properly fit protective equipment.

– Students will be able to classify sports by the level of contact.


• Selection, fitting, and maintenance of equipment is critical in injury prevention

• Must have knowledge of how to fit equipment for different sports

• Protection is critical in contact and collision sports


List Sports for Each Category


Safety Standards for Equipment and Facilities

• Materials, durability, safety standards, manufacturing, testing methods, and requirements for use

• Effectiveness more important that looks

• NOCSAE: – National Operating Committee for Standards in

Athletic Equipment– Set safety standards for equipment


• NOCSAE has established test standards to reduce head injuries– Set minimum safety requirements for helmets and

masks for football, baseball/softball and lacrosse– Colleges and high schools require the NOCSAE

certification

• NOCSAE label is not a warranty

• The label indicates the helmet met requirements when manufactured or reconditioned

• Helmets must be reconditioned – Consumer should use discretion based on use


Legal Considerations

• Lawsuits related to equipment have increased

• Who could be responsible if an injury occurs while protective equipment is being worn? – Manufacturer, equipment manager, coach, AT, player


Who is liable?1. A player is injured when his helmet cracks during a football

game. The manufacturer’s guidelines state the helmet should be reconditioned every 2 years, but it the helmet has been used for over 3 years since it was last checked.

2. A player is injured when the padding inside the helmet moved and the side of the helmet injured the players neck beside his ear. The helmet was NOCSAE approved and still under warranty.

3. A player is wearing a knee brace, but complains it is too bulky and hot. The AT agrees to remove some padding. The athlete’s skin gets irritated and is infected with MRSA.


Legal Concerns

• Number of lawsuits are increasing– Must foresee all uses and misuses and warn user

against potential risks inherent in equipment misuse

• If equipment results in injury due to defect or inadequacy for intended use manufacturer is liable

• If equipment is modified --modifier becomes liable


Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom Protective Equipment

• Off-the-shelf equipment– Pre-made and packaged– Can be used immediately

• Neoprene sleeves, inserts, ankle braces

– May be hard to size– Less expensive

• Customized equipment– Made for a specific individual– Specifically sized and designed for protective and supportive needs– More expensive/takes time


Head Protection• Direct collision sports require head protection due to

impacts, forces, velocities and implements

• Football Helmets– National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic

Equipment (NOCSAE) develop standards for football helmet certification

– Must be protective against concussive force– While helmets must be certified, they may not always be fail-

safe– Athletes and parents must be aware of inherent risks


– Each FB helmet must have visible exterior warning label • Label indicates that helmet should not be used to strike an

opponent due to risk of injury

• Also indicates risk of injury accidentally and that athlete plays at own risk while using helmet

– Athlete must be aware of risks and what label indicates• Athlete reads and signs statement regarding warning label

• Assumption of risk form



Helmet Fitting• When fitting a helmet the hair should be wet to

simulate sweat• Follow manufacturer’s directions• Must routinely check fit

– Players check daily– Coaches/equipment manager check weekly– Snug fit, full air bladderes, chin strap, tight face mask,

jaw/cheek pads

• If not fitted correctly a helmet will not protect


Helmet Fitting• Wet hair

• 1 inch above eyebrow

• Tight chin strap

• Snug fit/should not move

• Covers Base of Skull

• Ear Holes Match

• 3 Fingers from Nose to Facemask




• Football Shoulder Pads– Two types

• Cantilevered - bulkier and used by those engaged in blocking and tackling

• Non-cantilevered - do not restrict motion (quarterback and receivers)

• Extra padding can be worn to increase protection


– Rules of fitting Shoulder Pads• Width of shoulders must be measured

• Inside pad should cover tip of shoulder

• Top pad must cover deltoid and allow motion

• Neck opening must allow athlete to raise arms over head without the pads moving on neck

• Straps under arms should hold pads firmly in-place


Ice Hockey Helmets• Undergone extensive testing in an effort to

upgrade and standardize

• Must withstand high velocity impacts (stick or puck) and high mass low velocity impacts

• Helmet will disperse force over large area and decelerate forces that would act on head (energy absorption liner)

• Helmets must be approved by Canadian Standards Association (CSA)



Baseball/Softball Batting Helmets

• Must withstand high velocity impacts

• Research indicates the helmet does little to dissipate energy of ball

• Possible solution – add additional external padding

• Helmet must still carry NOCSAE stamp (similar to football label)


Cycling Helmets

• Designed to protect the head during a single impact – 1 time use only

• Football, baseball and hockey helmets are more durable and can survive repeated blows

• Many states require use of cycling helmets


Face Protection• Four categories

– Full face guards– Mouth guards– Ear guards– Eye protection

• Facial injuries have decreased by over 50% since facemasks and mouth guards have been required

• The number of concussions has increased since helmets have been required?– Why?


Face Guards• Have reduced the number of facial injuries

• The design depends on sport and position

• Proper mounting of the mask must occur with no additional attachments that would invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty

• FB must have at least 2 bars on face mask

• High schools require all hockey players to wear a mask



• Throat Protection– Throat injuries are uncommon but can be fatal– Baseball/softball catchers, lacrosse goalies, hockey

goalies– May be mandatory for these positions


• Ear guards– Boxing and wrestling require special ear protection– Most contact sports do not

– Irritation can cause permanent damage• Cauliflower Ear


– Mouth Guards• Most dental injuries can be prevented with mouth guards

• Protect teeth, lips, and absorbs shock of chin blows

• Should fit comfortably, not impede speech or breathing

• Should extend to last molar

• Do not cut down mouth guard – it voids warranty for dental protection and could become dislodged and block breathing

• Three types– Stock– Commercial (formed following submersion in water)– Custom (fabricated from dental mold)

• Mandated use in high school and collegiate levels– High schools require strap on mouth piece


– Eye Protection Devices• Highest % of eye injuries are sports related

• Generally blunt trauma

• Glasses– Slip on sweat, bend, fog up, detract from peripheral vision or hard to wear

with headgear– Lens should be case hardened to cause crumbling and not splintering on

contact (disadvantage = increased weight)– Polycarbonate lens is virtually unbreakable– May have polarizing/tinting ability– Photochromatic lenses change color when exposed to sun– Plastic lenses while lightweight are easy to scratch


– Contact Lenses• Become part of the eye and move with it• Corneal (hard) and sclera (soft) lenses• Does not affect peripheral vision• Will not fog and can be tinted• Disadvantage – corneal irritation and it falling out• Keep extra contacts


– Eye and Glasses Guards• Necessary in sports with fast moving projectiles

– Hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, paintball

• Athletes not wearing glasses should wear closed eye guards to protect orbital cavity

• While eye guards protect, they can limit vision

• Polycarbonate eye shield have been developed for numerous pieces of head gear


Trunk and Thorax (chest) Protection

• Abdominal, chest, back

• Essential in many sports

• Must protect regions that are exposed to the impact of forces– External genitalia, bony protuberances,

shoulders, ribs, and spine


• Sports Bras– Research/development for good sports bras– Decreases vertical and horizontal movements– To be effective, should hold breasts to chest, preventing

stretching of Cooper’s ligament– Types available

• Lightweight elastic (for smaller breasts – support not as critical)

• Compressive (bind breasts to chest wall - recommended for medium size breast)

• Supportive (stronger and provide upward support for larger breasts – provides the best supportive)


• Rib Protection– Thorax protectors and rib belts– Protect against external forces– Air-inflated interconnected cylinders (jacket

design)


Hips and Buttocks

• Required in collision and high-velocity sports

• Boxing, snow skiers, equestrians, jockeys and water skiers

• Girdle and belt types


Groin and Genitalia

• Sports involving high velocity projectiles

• Require cup protection for male participants

• Stock item that fits into jockstrap or athletic supporter


Lower Extremity Protective Equipment

• Socks– Poorly fit socks can cause stress, irritation, and

blisters– Should be clean, dry and w/out holes– Different types for different activities– Composition

• Cotton/poly blend are lighter and dry faster - best

• All cotton can be bulky and does not dry quickly - bad


• Shoe selection– Number of options for multiple activities

– Guidelines for selection• Toe Box - space for toes (1/2 to 3/4 inch of space from toes to front of

shoe)

• Sole - provide shock absorption and durable

• Last – the form on which shoe is built– May be straight, semi-curved, curved– Straight = flat arch or run on inside of foot (pronator)– Semi-curved = foot to fit normal arch– Curved = more forefoot stability, high arch (supinator)


• Heel Counter (back of the shoe)- prevents medial and lateral roll of foot

• Shoe Uppers – material on top of shoe• Arch Support - durable but soft and supportive to foot• Price- due to impact on performance and injury

prevention, may be worth the extra investment


• Shoe fitting– Measure both feet, as there will be slight differences– What will they be used for?– Fit at the end of day – feet swell after wt. bearing– Should be snug but allow movement of foot and toes– Should break/bend at widest part, coinciding with

ball of foot– Playing surfaces and activities must be considered


• Heel Cups– Used for a variety of conditions including

plantar fascitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis and heel bursitis

– Used to help compress fat pad, providing more cushion during weight bearing


• Foot Orthotics– Insert that corrects

biomechanical problems that exist in foot

– Plastic, thermoplastic, rubber, leather support or ready-made products

– Can also be customized by MD, AT, PT, or podiatrist

• More expensive


• Ankle Supports– Alone or with tape– Significant debate over efficacy– Little or no impact on performance– Compared to tape, the device will not loosen

significantly with use


• Shin and Lower Leg– Often overlooked– Commercially marketed, hard molded shin guards

are used in field hockey and soccer


• Thigh and Upper Leg– Necessary in collision sports

– Pads slip into ready made uniform pockets

– Customized pads may need to be held in place with tape and/or wraps

– Neoprene sleeves can also be used for support of injuries

• Knee Braces– Used prophylactically to prevent injuries to MCL

– Prophylatctic – preventative


• Types of Braces– Rehabilitative:

• widely used following surgery

• Allows controlled progressive immobilization

• Adjustable

– Functional:• Used during and following rehab to provide functional support

• Ready-made and customized

– Neoprene (w/ medial and lateral support)• Used by those that have collateral ligament injuries

• Some are also used to provide support in those that have patellofemoral conditions


Elbow, Wrist and Hand Protection

• While the elbow is less commonly injured it is susceptible to instability, contusions, and muscle strain

• A variety of products are available to protect the elbow


• Wrist, hand and finger injuries are often trivialized but can be functionally disabling

• Susceptible to fracture, dislocation, ligament sprains and muscle strains

• Gloves and splints are available for protection and immobilization

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 7: Selecting and Using Protective Equipment Objectives: –Students will be able to identify.

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