Answer: to avoid injuries cramps fractures bruised strong impact in head Explanation: Introduction[edit | edit source]Sports injuries are very common in both contact sports and non contact sports. In the USA more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment related to sports injuries each year. High school athletes account for about 2 million injuries each year.[1] According to CDC, more than half of the sports injuries in children are preventable. Hootman et al[2] collected data over a 16 year period and found that injury rates were statistically more significant in games than in practice. They calculated the injuries per 1000 A-E (athlete-exposure per game or practice), and they reported about 13.8 injuries per 1000 A-E in games, and about 4.0 injuries per 1000 A-E in practice. Sports can be briefly categorized into contact/collision sports, limited-contact sports and non-contact sports. Injuries in contact sports and adventurous sports can be fatal. Although death from sports injury is very rare, sports and recreational injuries account for about 21% of traumatic brain injuries among American children. One of the important aspects in sports medicine and in the prevention of athletic injuries is protective gears. The physical therapist's role is to ensure safety, prevention of injuries and protecting existing injuries. Knowledge on different types of athletic equipment available may help physical therapists in proper selection and fitting of the equipment, as this can play a key role in preventing injuries[3]. There are various regulatory bodies/organizations who undertake the responsibility of the durability of the equipment and have a set standards for the equipment. US athletic equipment standards are issued by NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment), and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is another regulatory body. NOCSAE is most widely recognized certification. The committee started initially with the primary focus on football helmets and its effectiveness in reducing injuries. All helmets has to be reconditioned and re-certified every year[4]. It also requires manufacturers to post a warning on the football helmet. Other governing bodies are, ISO (International Organization of Standardization), ANSI (American National Standard Institute), and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). Protective Materials[edit | edit source]Highly resilient materials are used when protection from repeated impacts is required. Non-resilient materials can be used when one time or occasional impact is expected. Different types of protective materials include:
Head Protection[edit | edit source]List of sports requiring head protection include: Amateur boxing, baseball, cycling, football, ice hockey, men’s’ lacrosse, softball, cricket and whitewater sports. Football Helmet
[5] Ice Hockey Helmet – Must only absorb singular as opposed to multiple impacts in football. Helmet should also protect the head from low-mass, high-velocity impact forces (like hit with stick or puck) in addition to high-mass, low velocity (like fall). Must be certified by Canadian standards association (CSA). Use of full-face shield reduces the number and severity of facial injuries. Baseball Helmets – should absorb high-velocity impacts. Ability to prevent head injury is questionable. Face Protection[edit | edit source]Face guards
Chin Straps
Eye and Ear Protection[edit | edit source]Eye Protection
Ear Protection
Mouth Guard[edit | edit source]
Neck, Chest and Upper Extremities Protection[edit | edit source]Most neck protection does not protect from cervical injuries such as “burners”. Most neck protectors serve as more of a reminder to use proper technique while tackling.
[7] In collegiate and professional football, no rigid material can be worn at the elbow or below unless it is adequately padded with closed-cell foam. Lower Extremities Protection[edit | edit source]Thigh and hip protection
Knee protection
Shin guards – Soccer, Ice hockey and field hockey players as well as baseball catchers are required to wear shin guards in intercollegiate play.
References[edit | edit source]
Why is it important to wear protective gear in sports?Sports safety equipment is vital for protecting athletes from injuries ranging from mild to severe. Many parts of the body are susceptible to sprains, strains, breaks, and damage that can interfere with your activity or result in permanent issues.
Why is it important to use equipment gears in this kind of activity?Wearing the proper gear drastically reduces the chances of your getting injured, enabling you to focus on the game and not worry about accidents that might occur. Also, wearing the right gear does not exclusively apply to rough sports.
What is the importance of having facilities and equipment in playing basketball?The contact nature of the sport ups the risk of falls and collisions with other players. Appropriate protective gear can help to minimize injury risks. At Summit, we are committed to preventing injury before it occurs whenever possible. The right basketball equipment will maximize a player's safety during games.
What is the importance of identifying the equipment needed in playing each sport?Sports equipment is needed to compete in many different sports. Without the proper equipment, playing the sports we love would be unsafe and more challenging. Each sport has its own unique set of equipment that an athlete must have to compete and succeed.
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