Lecture 1_ Characteristics of Protective Equipment Instructor PDF

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Welcome to PEq&B! Course Objectives: Competencies: 1. Identify the principles used in the design of protective equipment and bracing. ◦ Appropriately fit and modify 2. Identify the m...

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Welcome to PEq&B! Course Objectives: Competencies: 1. Identify the principles used in the design of protective equipment and bracing. ◦ Appropriately fit and modify 2. Identify the materials used in the design of protective equipment to protective equipment and bracing. maintain safety standards 3. Describe the forces that produce focal and (for example, CSA). (AT diffuse injuries and the significance of protective Expert) equipment in preventing these injuries. ◦ Modify taping and wrapping 4. Recognize appropriate protective equipment and bracing for associated sports and activities. techniques or equipment as necessary to facilitate safe 5. Describe how to correctly select and fit protective equipment associated with contact return to sport/activity for sports. the athlete/patient. (AT 6. Develop inventory and repair check list for Expert) protective equipment used in sport. ◦ Demonstrate effective 7. Implement the proper process and steps used in written communication skate sharpening and skate repair. (Sort of) skills (i.e., clear, concise, 8. Describe principles of footwear design and the and organized). biomechanical risk factors. (Introduction) (Communicator) 9. Implement a basic risk management strategy related to protective equipment and facility ◦ Employ health promotion design. strategies that align with 10. Identify the athletic therapist's legal duty and Occupational Health and responsibility when selecting and repairing Safety standards to prevent protective equipment and bracing. and control the spread of infectious diseases. (Health Advocate)  DEFLECTION What is deflection? ◦ the ability equipment to re-direct the force of impact so that it is altered from its original path ◦ reduces the force of impact What sort of design would accomplish this? ◦ a hard outer shell that will sustain heavy impact loads without fatigue or fracture ◦ Smooth and round surfaces  DISPERSION What is dispersion? ◦ the ability of the protective equipment to spread out the force of the blow over a wide area Typically accomplished via 2 ways ◦ cantilever ⚫ rigid, single, continuous piece of material ◦ donut pad ⚫ combination of a hard outer shell and foam  ABSORPTION What is absorption? ◦ the equipment ability has to take in some of the impact or shock ◦ diminish the force reaching the body  ABSORPTION What types of materials are used for absorption? a) Air - good absorption of impact - comfortable - better individual fit - if bladder is intact - it will not absorb water or perspiration  ABSORPTION b) Foam Closed Cell - Decent absorption of impact/force - Longer to return to original shape - Durability is great - Doesn’t absorb water or perspiration readily - Can be uncomfortable  ABSORPTION Open Cell Foam - Excellent absorption of impact/force - More comfortable than closed cell - Returns to original shape quick - Lacks durability - More likely to absorb water or perspiration While there is one more…. How do you think the previous 3 principals would be appreciated by a field lacrosse goalie? https://www.instagram.com/p/C2 S51yPPtM6/?igsh=ZmxpNTByNm Fpdm55&img_index=4  LIMITING What is “limiting”? ◦ involves the prevention of a joint to move through a certain range of motion What types of materials can be used? ◦ tape ◦ sam splint ◦ foam ◦ nylon ◦ neoprene ◦ leather ◦ metal HEAD PROTECTION HELMETS HEAD PROTECTION Contact sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse require special protective equipment. Each sport has different considerations. Need to look at demands of the sport and the need for protective equipment.  Helmets What is the purpose of a helmet? - To prevent or minimize trauma sustained to the head Do you think helmets can prevent all injuries? - No – if trauma exceeds the range of protection and/or exceeds the force of protective impact Thought Provoking Question: Helmets for the most part are not new…and yet are new. ◦ Hockey started with no helmets. In fact the last player to go without scored his final goal in 1996 (Craig McTavish) ◦ NFL started with leather helmets. Now have helmet covers for practice ◦ Rugby has skull caps, which are soft  Question: Do you think adding helmets has actually made “sports” more dangerous? (More players take different liberties when they know their opponents head is “protected”)  How do they Reduce Injury? Helmets contain crushable foam or equivalent ◦ helps to control force of impact Reduce peak impact force down to an acceptable range to brain. ◦ Eg. Bicycle Helmets Thicker foam vs. Thin foam More dense vs. Less dense foam ◦ less dense will absorb less ◦ can bottom out if not thick enough ◦ Need to consider rate sensitive foam  Implications Foam can be too thick ◦ Outer circumference of helmet is extended Surface of helmet may not be smooth or round ◦ Can wrench the neck May be exterior additions to the helmet ◦ Can get caught and not allow helmet to slide or deflect  Materials Used Many helmets use crushable foam: Expanded Polystyrene foam (EPS) ◦ Very crushable, does not return back to original form Expanded Polypropylene foam (EPP) ◦ Squishy ◦ Used for multi-impact sport ◦ **These seem like good exam questions, eh? Hockey vs. Football Football Helmet More frequent opportunities for body contact Contact occurs several times over a very short period of time Must withstand repeated blows of high mass, low velocity impacts Diffuse impacts Xenith 2024 In fact…. Not only do helmets go through testing, they are constantly being upgraded. Note this news article: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/1 1046618/nfl-helmets-safety-bans -models-season/ Hockey Helmet Blows to the head are usually isolated Faster creating greater impact forces Low mass, high velocity Impulse Padding SHOULDER PROTECTION SHOULDER PADS SHOULDER PROTECTION Differs depending on the demands of the sport and level of play Hockey – lateral impact Football - the majority of the impacts to the shoulder are in the axial direction  SHOULDER PROTECTION 2 general styles of pads: ◦ Flat (Non-Cantilevered) ◦ Cantilever ⚫ Strap which overlies the AC joint (football pads) attaches breast plate and dorsal plate ⚫Dispersion of force Cantilevers are rarely used in hockey or lacrosse as collisions are usually from the side SHOULDER PROTECTION Components: 1. Epaulette hard, rounded plastic which assists in force dispersion should not touch deltoid cup should sit just off the AC joint 2. Forming Spring plastic or metal attaches from front plate to back plate gives shape to pad to raise it off the shoulder  SHOULDER PROTECTION 3. Cantilever Strap consists of a vinyl or synthetic material attached to dorsal plate and breast plate pad should fit such that the cantilever strap is over the distal third of the clavicle helps disperse force front to back SHOULDER PROTECTION 4. Clavicle Channel hollow area under the equipment which acts like a donut pad over the clavicle 5. Breast Plate front part of pad which protects pectoral region and sternum SHOULDER PROTECTION 6. Dorsal Plate back part of pad which protects upper vertebral column and scapular regions 7. Deltoid Cup protects the head of both the deltoid and the humerus NOCSAE What is NOCSAE? ◦ National Operating Committee on Standards in Athletic Equipment ⚫http://nocsae.org/ Background ◦ inception in 1969 ◦ non-profit, charitable organization ◦ formed to commission research directed toward injury reduction ◦ comprised of representatives from groups who have an interest in athletic equipment Development of test standards for: ◦ football, baseball, and lacrosse helmets ◦ football and lacrosse face masks ◦ baseballs/softballs Research efforts focused on: ◦ a better understanding of the mechanism and tolerance of head and neck injuries ◦ more knowledge concerning the design and structure of helmets and protective equipment NOSCAE Symbol The NOCSAE Football Helmet Standard Work of establishing a football helmet standard began in 1970 NOCSAE test standard published in 1973 Testing equipment now installed in manufacturing plants ◦ manufacturers now assume responsibility for testing and certifying The NOCSAE Football Helmet Standard Some changes to football helmets as a result of the research include: ◦shell size changes ◦substitution of stiffer for softer materials ◦elimination of the number of models from 85 (1972) to 25 (1992) ◦quality control  NAERA What is the NAERA? ◦ National Athletic Equipment Reconditioner’s Association ⚫http://www.naera.net/ 1975 - 84% of the reconditioned helmets failed the NOCSAE test (head drop test) 1977 - NOCSAE Football Helmet Standard was revised, allowing for the recertification of helmets The NOCSAE Football Helmet Standard NCAA ◦ 1978, mandated the use of certified helmets National Federation of State High School Association ◦ 1980, mandated use of certified helmets Hockey Helmet Standard HECC CSA Sticker (Hockey Canada Equipment Certification Committee) USA  Head Injury Reduction 1985 - a significant downward trend in head injury fatalities leading to 0 deaths during the 1990 season National Federation of State High School reported a 74% reduction incidence of serious head injuries estimated to average: ◦ 4.25 : 100,000 1964 – 1968  Head Injury Reduction Things to remember: ◦ injury reduction is due partially to altered equipment but also due partially to rule changes ◦ Rule changes have also decreased the incidence of quadriplegic injuries