1. Protective Gear and Sports Equipment
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2. LESSON OBJECTIVE
Students will understand how critical selection, fitting and maintenance of protective equipment are to injury prevention
Students will have the knowledge of the varies types of protective equipment available for different sports and proper fitting procedures
Students will be able to discuss the importance of protection in contact and collision sports
Students will have an understanding of how and when protective equipment should be used to facilitate rehabilitation and Sports activity
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3. Safety Standards for Equipment and Facilities
Concerns relative to materials, durability, establishment of standards, manufacturing, testing methods, and requirements for use
Must be in place relative to maintenance
Concern should be protective ability not appearance of equipment
A number of groups and agencies are involved in standardizing sports equipment and facilities
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4. Equipment Reconditioning and Recertification
National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment established voluntary testing standards in an effort to reduce head injuries
Established for football helmets, baseball/softball helmets, lacrosse helmets/facemasks
Takes into consideration type of helmet and amount of and intensity of usage
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5. NOCSAE helmet standard
Not a warranty
Indicates that helmet met requirements of performance tests when manufactured/re-conditioned
Helmets should undergo regular recertification and reconditioning
Will allow equipment to meet necessary standards for multiple seasons
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6. 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 pose problem relative to sizing
Customized equipment
Constructed according to the individual
Specifically sized and designed for protective and supportive needs
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7. Head Protection
Direct collision sports require head protection due to impacts, forces, velocities and implements
Football Helmets
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
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8. Each 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
There are a number of helmet manufacturers, and even more have closed due to lawsuits and liability cases
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Figure 7-1

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Figure 7-2

11. Helmet Fitting When fitting head/hair should be wet to simulate sweat
Follow manufacturer’s directions
Must routinely check fit
Snug fit (credit card test)
With change in altitude bladder helmets must be rechecked
Chin straps (2, 4, or 6 strap systems)
Jaw pads are essential (prevent lateral rocking)
Certification is of no avail if helmet is not fit and maintained
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Figure 7-3

13. 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 or the Hockey Equipment Certification Council
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14. Baseball Batting Helmets
Must withstand high velocity impacts
Research has indicated that helmet does little to dissipate energy of ball
Possible solution would be to add additional external padding
Helmet must still carry NOCSAE stamp (similar to football label)
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15. Lacrosse Helmets Required for all male lacrosse players
Women’s lacrosse only requires protective eye guard
Made of hard plastic with wire mesh face guard
Designed to absorb repeated impact from hard, high velocity projectiles
Goalie helmet add throat protector
Figure 7-7
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16. Soccer Headgear
Designed to reduce incidence of concussions due to heading ball
Consists of headband with foam padding
No research to support effectiveness in reducing incidence of concussions
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17. Mouth Guards
Most dental injuries can be prevented with appropriate customized intraoral mouth guards
Protect teeth, minimize lip lacerations, absorb shock of chin blows, and prevent concussions
Should fit comfortably, not impede speech or breathing
Should extend back as far as last molar
Constructed of flexible resilient material formed to fit teeth and upper jaw
Do not cut down mouth guard as it voids warranty for dental protection and could become dislodged and disrupt breathing
Three types
Stock
Commercial (formed following submersion in water)
Custom (fabricated from dental mold)
Mandated use in high school and collegiate levels
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18. Eye and Glasses Guards Neck Protection
Necessary in sports with fast moving projectiles
Athletes not wearing glasses should wear closed eye guards to protect orbital cavity
While eye guards afford great protection, they can limit vision
Polycarbonate eye shield have been developed for numerous pieces of head gear
Neck Protection
Serve primarily as a reminder to athlete to be cautious rather than providing definitive restrictions
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19. Trunk and Thorax Protection
Essential in many sports
Must protect regions that are exposed to the impact of forces
External genitalia, bony protuberances, shoulders, ribs, and spine
While equipment may provide armor, it may also be used as an implement
Question must be asked concerning necessity of equipment and its role in producing trauma
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20. 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)
Rules of fitting
Width of shoulders must be measured
Inside of pad should cover tip of shoulder in line with lateral aspect of shoulder
Epaulets and cups must cover deltoid and allow motion
Neck opening must allow athlete to raise arms over head w/out pads sliding forward and back
With split clavicle pads, channel for top of shoulder must be in proper position
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21. Non-cantilevered Cantilevered Figure 7-15
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22. Figure 7-16
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23. Straps underneath arms should hold pads firmly in-place, w/out soft tissue restriction
Combinations of padding (football and hockey) may be used to supplement padding and protection
Figure 7-17
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24. Ankle Braces Alone or with tape -- they are increasingly popular
Significant debate over efficacy
Little or no impact on performance
Compared to tape, the device will not loosen significantly with use
Research also looking at impact on proprioceptive effects
Evidence to support use for prevention
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25. Knee Braces
Used prophylactically to prevent injuries to MCL
AOSSM has expressed concerns to efficacy in doing so
May positively influence joint position sense
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Figure 7-30

26. Types of Braces Rehabilitative: Functional:
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 sustained collateral ligament injuries
Some are also used to provide support in those that have patellofemoral conditions
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