Safety in sports has garnered more and more attention in recent years due to the increasing numbers of people participating and the need for injury prevention. Properly caring for and maintaining facilities and equipment is one method of ensuring safety while the enforcement of rules made for the protection of the participants is another. The most obvious example though, is the increased use of sports protective wear.
A wide variety of this type of gear is available, varying according to which sport is being played and the particular needs of the user. Certain sports have rules requiring the use of specific types of protective wear because of the intrinsic dangers involved. There are also additional options for those with special needs or conditions.
A sport that uses an obviously large amount of protective padding is American football. Anyone playing this game must, by rule, wear a helmet, a face mask, a mouth guard and shoulder pads. In most cases hip, knee, thigh and tailbone pads will be required as well.
Ice hockey is another game in which the players are padded nearly from head to toe. It's also an illustration of the increased role of protective padding. Years ago hockey players didn't wear head or face protection. Even goalies used to wear nothing on their heads despite using their bodies to block a puck hurtling toward the net at incredibly high speeds. Nowadays, hockey players are much better protected, including high-tech goalie masks and helmets.
Helmets are probably the most-used type of protective gear in sports, being seen in a wide variety of activities. This is due to the fact that suffering a head injury can have a tremendously negative effect on one's life and helmets can be effective ways of preventing this. In addition to American football and hockey, they are also standard in baseball, auto racing, cycling, horse riding, skiing and snowboarding among others.
Such examples are quite obvious but this isn't always the case. For instance, rash guards are often worn in surfing to protect the skin from both the sun and from excessive friction caused by rubbing against the board. The leash, which is worn on one leg and attaches to the board, can be viewed in this way too. The leash keeps the board from flying away and putting other surfers in danger of being hit by it.
In addition to required equipment, bracing and taping is commonly used to protect an injured body part. If one is returning to action after recovering from a sprained ankle, this may be an option for preventing a recurrence. This is also the case with chronic injuries, for example using a brace or tape on one's ankle to prevent further sprains even when there are no current problems with it.
Sports protective wear is widely available and can be quite effective in preventing and protecting injuries. Each sport involves some level of risk. Each participant should be aware of these risks and their own needs and choose their gear accordingly.
A wide variety of this type of gear is available, varying according to which sport is being played and the particular needs of the user. Certain sports have rules requiring the use of specific types of protective wear because of the intrinsic dangers involved. There are also additional options for those with special needs or conditions.
A sport that uses an obviously large amount of protective padding is American football. Anyone playing this game must, by rule, wear a helmet, a face mask, a mouth guard and shoulder pads. In most cases hip, knee, thigh and tailbone pads will be required as well.
Ice hockey is another game in which the players are padded nearly from head to toe. It's also an illustration of the increased role of protective padding. Years ago hockey players didn't wear head or face protection. Even goalies used to wear nothing on their heads despite using their bodies to block a puck hurtling toward the net at incredibly high speeds. Nowadays, hockey players are much better protected, including high-tech goalie masks and helmets.
Helmets are probably the most-used type of protective gear in sports, being seen in a wide variety of activities. This is due to the fact that suffering a head injury can have a tremendously negative effect on one's life and helmets can be effective ways of preventing this. In addition to American football and hockey, they are also standard in baseball, auto racing, cycling, horse riding, skiing and snowboarding among others.
Such examples are quite obvious but this isn't always the case. For instance, rash guards are often worn in surfing to protect the skin from both the sun and from excessive friction caused by rubbing against the board. The leash, which is worn on one leg and attaches to the board, can be viewed in this way too. The leash keeps the board from flying away and putting other surfers in danger of being hit by it.
In addition to required equipment, bracing and taping is commonly used to protect an injured body part. If one is returning to action after recovering from a sprained ankle, this may be an option for preventing a recurrence. This is also the case with chronic injuries, for example using a brace or tape on one's ankle to prevent further sprains even when there are no current problems with it.
Sports protective wear is widely available and can be quite effective in preventing and protecting injuries. Each sport involves some level of risk. Each participant should be aware of these risks and their own needs and choose their gear accordingly.
