Chapter 3 Protective Equipment Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the role of the AT when it comes to protective equipment?
ensure PE meets minimum standards of protection, is in good condition, is clean and properly fitted, used routinely and is used as intended
What are the principles of protective equipment?
Protect from high-velocity, low mass forces and from low-velocity, high-mass forces
High-velocity, low-mass forces – individual struck by a ball, puck, bat, hockey stick
High-speed and low velocity impact forces concentrated in smaller areas – focal injuries
Low-velocity and high mass forces like individuals falling on the ground or ice or being checked into the boards – absorbed over a larger area 🡪 diffuse injuries
Sport-related and physical activity injuries: illegal play, poor technique, inadequate conditioning, poorly matched player levels, a previously injured area that is vulnerable to reinjury, low tolerance to injury, inability to protect an area without restricting motion, poor quality/maintenance or cleanliness of protective equipment
What are the equipment design factors that can reduce potential injury?
Increase the impact area
Transfer or disperse the impact area to another body part
Limit the relative motion of a body part
Add mass to the body part to limit deformation and displacement
Reduce friction between contacting surfaces
Absorb energy
Resist the absorption of bacteria, fungi and viruses
What are the different materials used in the making of protective equipment? (general)
Soft low-density material is light and comfortable to wear – only affective low levels of impact intensity
Gauze padding, foam, neoprene, Sorbothane, felt, moleskin
Firmer high-density material tends to be less comfortable – offers less cushioning of low-level impact, but can absorb more energy by deformation
It transfers less stress to an area at higher levels of impact intensity
Thermomoldable plastics (orthoplast, thermoplast), casting materials (fiberglass and plaster)
Useful for protecting areas for direct blows and focal injuries
Resilience to impact forces – resilient materials regain their shape after impact and are used over areas that are subjected to repeated impacts
Nonresilient – best protection and used over areas subjected to one-time or occasional impacts
What are the different soft materials used in the making of protective equipment?
Light because of air incorporated
Gauze padding – variety of widths and thickness and is used as an absorbent or protective pad
Neoprene sleeves provide uniform compression, therapeutic warmth, support for chronic injury
Nylon-coated rubber material – comfortable, full mobility, absorption of sweat, less skin breakdown, proprioceptive feedback
Sorbothane – shoe insoles to absorb and dissipate impact forces during walking/running
Felt – matted wool fibers, absorbs sweat but doesn’t move as well, replace daily
Moleskin – thin felt with adhesive bonding to prevent movement, used over friction sports to reduce skin irritation/blisters
Open-cell foam – cells are connected to allow passage of air from cell to cell, absorbs fluids, pad bony promenences, protect skin under hard edges, deform quickly under stress
Don’t have good shock absorbing properties
Closed-cell foam – used for protection, air cannot pass through cells, material rebounds and returns to its original shape quickly, less cushion at low levels of impact, not as comfortable next to the skin
What are the different hard materials used in the making of protective equipment?
Thermoplastics – plastic and rubber
Plastic – polycaprolactone base with varying amounts of inorganic filler, resins and elastomers – memory, stiffness and durability of the material
Rubber – polyisoprene base
Materials heated while lying flat for 1 minute at temperatures between 150 and 180 degrees F, shaped for 3-4 minutes before it hardens
Casting materials – fiberglass and plaster – used to splint body part
Extended use – infections, burns, blisters, ulcerations
Fiberglass casts with a stockinette or padding can limit moisture
When it comes to protective equipment and liability and equipment standards what does the AT have a duty to?
AT has a duty to:
Select the most appropriate equipment
Properly fit the equipment to the individual
Instruct the individual in proper care of the equipment
Warn the individual of any danger in using the equipment inappropriately
Supervise and monitor the proper use of all protective equipment
What are the characteristics of football helmets?
Prevent injury to face, scalp, skull – no evidence in preventing concussions
Use a single or double air bladder, closed-cell padding or a combo
Air bladders – absorbing shock, inspect daily
Helmet shells – plastic or polycarbonate alloy (lightweight, impact-resistant)
Polycarbonate alloy – 5 years
Plastic shell – 2 years
Heat alters effectiveness of shock absorption in some materials
Higher temperature – materials compress easily and absorb less shock
Fitting – hair cut, wet head, check daily for proper fit
What are the characteristics of ice hockey helmets?
Must absorb and disperse high-velocity, low-mass forces (struck by stick/puck)
Low-velocity, high mass forces (falling/checked into boards)
Prevent head injuries but not neck injuries or axial loading
Properly fitted: helmet should sit level on the head one to two finger widths above the eyebrows, maximum of two finger widths between the neck and chin strap, face mask should fit properly in the J clips and the chin should rest in the chin cup
Does not move, slide or rotate when the head is turned
What are the characteristics of batting helmets?
Open-faced with a double ear-flap design, protects majority of the superolateral cranium but not the jaw or facial area
Thick layer of foam between the primary energy absorber and the head to allow the shell to move slightly and deform
Maximizes ability to absorb kinetic energy from a ball or bat and prevent excessive pressure on the cranium
Shouldn’t move when running
What are the characteristics of lacrosse helmets?
mandatory for men and optional for women, made of highly resistant plastic or fiberglass shell
What are the characteristics of bicycle helmets?
plastic or fiberglass, rigid shell with chin strap, energy absorbing foam liner – prevents injuries to head and upper/mid face region
Stiffer shell – better diffusion
Firmer/denser foam protects at higher velocities
No helmet – expose frontal region = common site of impact in bike head injuries
Fitting errors = rest too high on forehead, improper strap positioning, excessive front to back movement
What are the characteristics of face guards?
Protect and shield the facial region from flying projectiles
Football – heavy gauge, plastic coated steel rod to protect from blunt surfaces
No face mask protection should be less than two bars
Ice hockey– clear plastic, steel wire – prevent penetration of hockey sticks and flying pucks
What are the different characteristics of eyewear?
Goggles, face shields and spectacles
Goggles – made of hard, impact-resistant plastic – wear with contact lenses
Watertight – swimming
Other type can be warn over spectacles – well ventilated to allow air currents to minimize fogging
Face shields – attached to helmet, less chance a finger or hand can hit
Spectacles – lenses, frames and side shields seen in industrial eye protective wear – 3 mm thick, made from CR 39 plastic or polycarbonate (greatest impact resistance), prescription
Clean: warm, soapy water and rinsed with clean water
Contact lenses = no protection, hard or corneal type (covers iris), soft or scleral type (covers entire front of the eye)
What are the characteristics of earwear?
Hematoma auris – repeated friction and trauma to the ear leading to deformity
Boxing, wrestling, water polo
Proper fit = chin strap is snug and head gear doesn’t move, protective ear cup shouldn’t compress the external ear
Worn to protect hearing function as well – biathlon, riffle competitions
What are the characteristics of mouth guards?
Football, ice hockey, lacrosse
Properly fitted across the upper teeth – can absorb energy, disperse impact, cushion impact between upper and lower teeth, keep upper lip away from teeth
Type I (custom, most effective), type II (boil and bite, most common), type III (stock, least expensive and least protective)
Care = rinse with water and air dry, periodically put in weak bleach solution over night
What are the characteristics of throat and neck protectors?
Blows to anterior throat – cause serious airway compromise 🡪 crush larynx/trachea, edema of the glottic structures, vocal cord disarticulation, hemorrhage or laryngospasm
Cervical neck rolls and collars – limit excessive motion of the c/s and reduce hyperextension
What are the characteristics of shoulder protection?
Protect soft and bony tissue structures in the shoulder, upper back and chest
External shell – hard plastic but lightweight
Inner lining – closed or open cell padding to absorb and disperse shock (open reduces peak impact forces)
Cantilevered – hard plastic bridge over superior aspect of the shoulder to protect the AC joint, lightweight, max ROM
Flat – lightweight, less protection, allow for more GH joint movement
What are the characteristics of elbow, forearm, wrist and hand protection?
Goalies and field players
Counterforce forearm brace – relief for medial and lateral epicondylitis 🡪 reduce tensile forces in wrist flexors and extensors
Forearm, wrist and hands – gloves and pads
What are the characteristics of thorax, rib and abdominal protection?
Collision and contact sports
Commotio cordis - blow to chest from a small spherical fast moving object - sudden cardiac death in young athletes
What are the characteristics of sports bras?
Provide added support to prevent excessive vertical and horizontal breast motion during exercise
Bras made from nonelastic material with wide shoulder straps and wide bands under the breasts to provide upward support, waist length designs can prevent cutting in below the breasts
Compressive bras that bind the breasts to the chest wall, women with medium-sized breasts typically prefer this type
Size C or larger need supportive bras
What are the characteristics of lumbar/sacral protection?
Support abdominal contents, stabilize the trunk, prevent spinal deformity or injury
Belts/binders – reduce spine compression, stabilize the spine, increase motor unit recruitment and increase exercise velocity
What are the characteristics of hip and buttock protection?
Hard polyethylene covered with layers of Ensolite – protect iliac crest, sacrum, coccyx, genital region
What are the characteristics of thigh protection?
Slip into ready made pockets in the girdle to prevent injury to the quad
Asymmetrical – larger flare placed laterally
Provide support for quadriceps and hamstrings strains
