 |  Essentials of Athletic Training, 5/e Daniel Arnheim
William Prentice,
University of North Carolina
Protective Sports Equipment
Chapter Overview- The proper selection and fitting of sports equipment are essential in the prevention of many sports injuries.
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Because of the current number of lawsuits, both durability of material and fit and wear requirements must meet sports equipment standards.
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Manufacturers must foresee all the possible uses and misuses of their equipment and warn the user of any potential risks.
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Head protection in many collision and contact sports is of particular concern: The helmet must be used as intended and not as a weapon; proper fit is also a requirement.
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A warning label on the outside of the helmet must indicate that it is not fail-safe, and the helmet must be used as intended.
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Face protection is of major importance in sports that have fast-moving projectiles, that use implements that come in close proximity to other athletes, and that are characterized by body collisions.
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The customized mouth guard, fitted to individual requirements, provides the best protection for the teeth and also helps protect against concussions.
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Eyes must be protected against projectiles and sports implements.
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The safest eye guard for the athlete not wearing glasses is the closed type that completely protects the orbital cavity.
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Many sports require protection of various parts of the athlete's body. American football players, ice hockey players, and baseball/softball catchers are examples of players who require body protection.
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Socks must be clean, without holes, and made of appropriate materials.
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Shoes must be suited to the sport and must be fitted to the larger foot, the wide part of the foot must match the wide part of the shoe, if the shoe has cleats, they must be positioned at the metatarsophalangeal joints.
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The hand, wrist, and elbow are also vulnerable to sports trauma and require special protective devices.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education