SCS Home Study Course: Chapter 14

Protective Equipment in Sports Medicine

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Timothy F. Tyler MS, PT, ATC

Clinical Research Associate/Educational Coordinator

Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine & Athletic Trauma

Lennox Hill Hospital, New York, NY

Objectives:

1.   Provide the most current evidence on protective equipment.

2.   Document the basic history of protective equipment.

3.   Inform the reader about the legal risks of providing protective equipment.

4.   Illustrate the differences between stock and custom protective equipment.

5.   Present the fitting, styles and level of protection for helmets in different sports.

6.   Present eye wear protection for different sports.

7.   Demonstrate the different protective equipment for the upper extremity.

8.   Show protective equipment for joints of the lower extremity.

Outline

I.   History

II.  Standards for Sports Equipment

III. Legal Concerns Regarding Protective Equipment

IV. Degree of Contact

V.  Stock Versus Custom Protection

VI. Protective Materials

     a. Air management pads

     b. Gel

     c. Felt

     d. Thermomoldable plastics

     e. Casting material

         i. Tools used for customizing

            1. Adhesives

            2. Fastening materials

VII.   Head Protection

         a. Football helmet

             i. Football helmet fitting

         b. Ice hockey helmets

         c. Baseball helmets

VIII.  Face Protection

         a. Face guards

         b. Chin straps

         c. Eye protection

             i.  Eyeglasses vs. contact lenses

             ii. “One-eyed” athletes

         d. Mouth guards

         e. Ear protectors

IX.    Neck Protection

X.     Upper Extremity Protection

         a. Football shoulder pads

         b. Additional shoulder protection in case of injury

            i.  Acromioclavicular sprain

            ii. Shoulder instability

         c. Elbow, wrist and hand protection

XI.    Chest Protection

        a. Chest and rib protection

        b. Bras

        c. Jocks

XII.  Lower Extremity Protection

        a. Thigh and hip protection

        b. Knee protection

            i.   Knee braces

            ii.  The ACL-deficient knee

            iii. Prophylactic knee bracing in football

            iv.  Neoprene

        c. Shin guards

        d. Ankle support

XIII. Conclusion

The completion of this course does not guarantee that the purchaser will pass the SCS examination.