Search

Futsal is a five-a-side version of football played on a smaller pitch. In futsal, most injuries affect the lower extremity (70%), followed by the head and neck (13%), and the incidence of concussion is reportedly 3.6-times higher than in football. Wearing a faceguard (FG) after maxillofacial injury can allow early, safe return to sports after injury, and the demand for FGs has been rising annually. This study examined the clinical effectiveness of a FG customized for a 30-year-old male futsal player in a top Japanese league team following nasal bone fracture. We also investigated the clinical assessment of the FG by the player, to obtain information for further development of FGs for futsal players. First, a case was made. Support areas of the FG were assigned to the frontal region and zygomatic arch. The eyes and nasal apex were left as uncovered as possible to minimize effects on the field of vision. A 3.2-mm-thick hard thermoplastic material was then softened and molded over the cast with light finger pressure. Cushioning materials were adhered to both inner and outer surfaces of the thermoplastic material. The FG was secured to the face using two stretch bands with hook-and-loop fasteners. Until fracture healing was confirmed after 3 weeks, the patient used the FG 15 times in practice and once in a preseason match. After using the FG, a questionnaire with 11-point rating scales was administered, asking: 1) about age, sex, and type of sports; 2) about frequency of and dissatisfaction with use; 3) about protective ability and comfort of FG use; and 4) about visual field in 4 directions (upper, lower, inside and outside). While protection ability and comfort appeared good with FG use, more attention in the design may need to be paid to fit and the lower visual field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the present case series study was to analyze injury types and injured anatomic locations resulting from skiing in snow park (SP) features and to determine potential risk factors for ski injuries in an SP.Methods: The study was conducted during the 2013-2014 winter season in the SP of a major winter resort located in the Spanish Pyrenees. Cases involved skiers who experienced feature-related injuries in the SP. A total of 113 cases met the inclusion criteria. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of injury types and injury to anatomic locations on aerial versus nonaerial features.Results: The overall injury rate was 0.9 per 1000 skier runs. The proportion of injuries was higher for aerials (1.18% of uses) than for nonaerials (0.66% of uses). Results revealed that the upper extremities were the most commonly injured body region, and sprains/strains/dislocations and fractures were the most common injury type.Conclusions: The most commonly injured anatomic location on nonaerial features was the face, while on aerial features it was the head. A higher proportion of fractures was observed on aerial features, while a higher proportion of sprains/strains/dislocations was observed on nonaerial features. Prevention strategies to reduce injury risk include SP redesign, safety and communication policies, instruction on technical skills, and promotion of the use of protective equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laceration injuries in rugby union account for approximately 6% of all injuries sustained during match play. Commentators often cite the design of studded footwear as a causal factor in laceration injuries. In order to assess the laceration injury risk of different stud designs, there is a need to develop a testing protocol that is able to replicate the laceration injury event. This study used a questionnaire to identify the play scenarios that result in laceration injuries. The questionnaire was answered by 191 rugby players, of which 72% had experienced one or more stud injuries during their career which hindered them playing rugby. Half of the laceration injuries described by the respondents came from the ruck, and 27% from a tackle. When analysing free-text responses, a deliberate stamp was described in 35% of the responses and a tackle from behind was described in 14% of responses. These injury scenarios are considered to be the dominant cause of laceration injuries. In future work the identified injury scenarios will be replicated in simulated play and kinetic and kinematic measurements will be recorded. This will inform test parameters for future assessment of laceration injury risk of stud designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concussion awareness in sports-related injuries has increased over the past decade. This has resulted in improvement in protective equipment and in our understanding of head injury. While contact sports such as ice hockey or football are of interest, concussion also occurs in non- contact sports like softball and baseball. The aim of this project was to describe facemask response to ball impacts. The study involved one face mask design and two types of foam padding. A method is presented that allows foam characterization at deformation rates and magnitudes representative of impact conditions. The foam impacts were modelled numerically and shown to agree with experiment. The facemask/foam system was placed on a Hybrid III headform and impacted with softballs to measure its response experimentally. A numeric model of the facemask/foam system on a model of the Hybrid III headform showed good agreement with experiment. Facemask impacts with a stiffer foam showed superior attenuation at high speeds (above 31 m/s) while a softer foam attenuated impacts better at low speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physical Culture / Fizicka Kultura is the property of University of Belgrade - Faculty of Sport & Physical Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reviews sports protective equipment and the level of protection each provide using a PubMed search for related clinical studies. It presents the National Health and Medical Research Council level of evidence grading system utilized in the research. It discusses the result of the evaluation of the studies found related to the value of athletic protective gears which include ankle supports, eyeguards, and headgear.

Copyright of Sport-Orthopadie - Sport-Traumatologie is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To describe injury rates and patterns in the emerging sport of hardcourt bike polo (HBP). Design: Descriptive survey. Setting: HBP playing areas (urban flat concrete surfaces). Participants: Twenty-two adult (≥18 years) HBP players who presented to a routine thrice-weekly playing site completed the survey. Main Outcome Measurements: Participants completed a survey that was used to evaluate demographics; frequency of play; rate, localization, and severity of injuries sustained in the past 1 year; and use of medical care. Results: The incidence of sustaining an injury in 1 year was 0.86. The main sites of injury involved the knee, elbow, wrist, and hand. Medical attention was sought by 15% of the injured players. Conclusion: HBP is a rapidly evolving urban sport in which participants are at risk for trauma-related injury, some of which may be preventable by the addition of appropriate safety equipment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study concerning the linear impact energy management and high prevalence of the brain injury of concussion in athletes. It states the products claims of novel American football helmet and protective technologies. It also emphasizes the request of the American football to conduct investigations involving the increasing rate of concussive injuries.

Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study sought to determine usage rates and barriers to the use of protective equipment in roughstock athletes. Between 2004 and 2006, amateur, collegiate, and professional roughstock athletes were surveyed using national organizational mailing lists. Findings revealed that during competition, 69% never wore a helmet. Barriers were a negative effect on performance and sport persona. Conversely, 88% always wore a vest. The perception that vest usage was required encouraged roughstock athletes to wear them. Mouthpiece use results were mixed; 58% always used and 21% never used a mouthpiece. Barriers were discomfort and frequent forgetfulness. Reported injury rate was high, with users noting fewer injuries to head and ribs than nonusers, and riders agreed that protective equipment prevented injury to the head, ribs, and mouth. However, equipment usage rates varied widely by type and seemed to be underutilized because the equipment affected performance, was uncomfortable, and not cowboy." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to compare tubing-related injuries to wakeboarding- and water skiing-related injuries. Data was collected from the 2000-2007 National Electronic Injury Surveillance Survey for 1,761 individuals seeking care at an emergency department due to a tubing-, wakeboarding, or water skiing-related injury. Data included patient age and sex, as well as injury characteristics including body region injured (i.e., head and neck, trunk, shoulder and upper extremity, and hip and lower extremity) and diagnosis of injury (e.g., contusion, laceration, or fracture). Case narratives were reviewed to ensure that a tubing-, wakeboarding-, or water skiing-related injury occurred while the individual was being towed behind a boat. Severe injury (defined as an injury resulting in the individual being hospitalized, transferred, held for observation) was compared among the groups using logistic regression. Wakeboard- and tubing-related injuries more commonly involved the head and neck, while water skiing-related injuries were likely to involve the hip and lower extremity. Tubing-related injuries, compared to water skiing-related injuries, were more likely to be severe (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.23-4.33). Like wakeboarding and water skiing, tubing has inherent risks that must be understood by the participant. While tubing is generally considered a safer alternative to wakeboarding and water skiing, the results of the current study suggest otherwise. Both the number and severity of tubing- related injuries could be prevented through means such as advocating the use of protective wear such as helmets while riding a tube or having recommended safe towing speeds prominently placed on inner tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of facial injuries occurs during sports. Severity of these injuries varies greatly. Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries is important to those participating in the health care of the athlete. Injuries that may threaten the airway or vision or cause bleeding are particularly crucial to understand. Dental injuries such as tooth fracture and tooth avulsion may need to be treated urgently in many cases. Facial lacerations may damage underlying structures, including the lacrimal system, facial nerve, or parotid duct. Closure of facial lacerations involves several considerations, such as cosmesis, method of wound closure, and complexity of the wound. Facial fractures occur commonly in sports, and familiarity with the various types and levels of severity is of key importance. Return-to-play guidelines after facial injury have yet to be established. Use of protective equipment can prevent facial injuries and protect athletes when returning to play after facial injury has occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field hockey is a popular sport that is played throughout the world. Most of the literature on the sport has focused on describing injury patterns. This research reveals that most injuries are minor and that the most common injury is an ankle sprain. Studies also suggest that men have a higher rate of injury and that they experience severe injuries more often than women. These severe injuries include trauma to the head, face, and upper limb and usually are the result of contact with the stick or ball. Consequently, many authors suggest that all players wear face and hand protection. Current International Field Hockey Federation rules recommend minimal protective equipment (e.g., mouthguard, shin, and ankle guards), and surveys indicate that many players do not wear mouthguards regularly. Looking into the future, research should focus on developing and evaluating effective strategies for injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the severity of head and facial injuries in female collegiate field hockey players in the U.S. It states that more than 250,000 people in the country every year have experienced facial trauma from participating in athletic activities. It outlines that life-threatening acute injuries, such as extensive bleeding or airway compromise, and serious long-term or permanent defects, such as disfigurement, postconcussive syndrome, or loss of vision or permanent teeth, can result from the injury. It cites the importance of prevention measures, including better protective equipment for the head and face, may help reduce future head and facial injuries the athletes.

Objective: To examine the effects of protective headgear in adolescent football (soccer) players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Oakville Soccer Club, Oakville, Canada. Participants: Football players aged 12-17 years. Intervention: A questionnaire examining the 2006 football season using self-reported symptoms. Main outcome measures: The number of concussions experienced during the current football season, the duration of symptoms, injuries to the head and face and any associated risk factors for these injuries. Results: In the population studied, 47.8% had experienced symptoms of a concussion during the current football year. 26.9% of athletes who wore headgear (HG) and 52.8% of those who did not wear headgear (No-HG) had concussions. Approximately 4 out of 5 athletes in each group did not realize they had suffered a concussion. More than one concussion was experienced by 50.0% of the concussed HG athletes and 69.3% of the concussed No-HG group. 23.9% of all concussed players experienced symptoms for at least 1 day or longer. Variables that increased the risk of suffering a concussion during the 2006 football year included being female and not wearing headgear. Being female and not wearing football head-gear increased the risk of suffering an abrasion, laceration or contusion on areas of the head covered by football headgear. Conclusion: Adolescent football players experience a significant number of concussions. Being female may increase the risk of suffering a concussion and injuries on the head and face, while the use of football headgear may decrease the risk of sustaining these injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: An effective approach to emergency removal of the face mask (FM) from a football helmet should include successful removal of the FM and limitation of both the time required and the movement created during the process. Current recommendations and practice are to use a cutting tool to remove the FM. Researchers recently have suggested an alternate approach that combines the use of a cordless screwdriver and a cutting tool. This combined tool approach has not been studied, and FM removal has not been studied in a practical setting. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and speed of using a combined tool approach to remove the FMs from football helmets during on-field conditions throughout the course of a football season. Design: Randomized multigroup design. Setting: Practice field of 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II football college. Patients or Other Participants: Eighty-four members of 1 football team. Intervention(s): We used a battery-operated screwdriver for FM removal and resorted to using a cutting tool as needed. Main Outcome Measure(s): We tracked FM removal success and failure and trial time and compared results based on helmet characteristics, weather variables, and the seasonal timing of the removal trial. Results: Of the 84 players, 76 were available for data-collection trials. Overall, 98.6% (75/76) of FM removal trials were successful and resulted in a mean removal time of 40.09 ± 15.1 seconds. We found no differences in FM removal time throughout the course of the season. No differences in effectiveness or trial time were found among helmet characteristics, weather variables, or the timing of the trial. Conclusions: Combining the cordless screwdriver and cutting tool provided a fast and reliable means of on-field FM removal in this Division II setting. Despite the excellent overall result, 1 FM was not removed in a timely manner. Therefore, we recommend that athletic trainers practice helmet removal to be prepared should FM removal fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of protective equipment is an important sports injury prevention strategy, yet use of protective equipment by high school athletes has seldom been studied. The authors analyzed data from a 3-year (1996–1999), stratified, two-stage cluster sample of athletes from 12 organized sports in 100 North Carolina high schools (n = 19,728 athlete-seasons). Information on each athlete's use of protective equipment and prior injury was collected during the preseason. Prospective information on injuries and weekly participation in games and practices was collected during the playing season. Use of lower extremity discretionary protective equipment tended to decrease the overall rate of lower extremity injury (rate ratio (RR) = 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72, 1.15). However, this slight protective effect was entirely due to kneepad use (for knee injury, RR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.74). Knee brace use and ankle brace use were associated with increased rates of knee injury (RR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.41) and ankle injury (RR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.72), respectively. This could be due to slippage of the brace during use, increased fatigue due to the energy cost of wearing a brace, or bias in the study. Further investigation into the effects of brace use is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protective effect of mouthguards is well known for the prevention of injuries to the jaw, face and oral region. However, in the case of Rugby, does the use of a mouthguard have auxiliary effects on the prevention of injury to other parts of the body? In contesting possession in Rugby. the tackle, serum, lineout, maul and ruck are the basis of play. In all these plays, the basic movement is performed from a crouching style with the head leading. The majority of serious injuries occur from collisions with an opponent done this way, that is, crouching with the head leading. Most studies show that clenching the teeth (and consequently the mouth guard) is effective in stiffening the body on contact with an opponent. At the point of contact, clenching can improve the strength of the neck muscles and body balance. This suggests that serious neck injury may be prevented by wearing a mouthguard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a considerable difference in regulations between men's lacrosse and women's lacrosse. Men's lacrosse is regarded as a contact sport because body checks are permitted but women's lacrosse is regarded as a non-contact sport because body checks are not permitted. According to the regulations, male lacrosse players must use a helmet, pads and gloves but a mouthguard is not compulsory. It is believed that a helmet with a face guard can provide sufficient defense against oral trauma. However, analysis of traumatic cases show that even the full-face type of helmet cannot provide complete protection against orofacial trauma. Therefore, wearing mouthguards should be a requisite for male lacrosse players. Regulations stipulate that female lacrosse players use mouthguards, which are classified into two types. One is the self-adapted type mouthguard and the other is the custom made type mouthguard. The former has inadequate protection ability and the latter has high protection ability. A survey of dental trauma shows that the rate of dental injuries decreased with the increased wearing rate of the custom-made mouthguard. This demonstrates the usefulness of custom-made mouthguards in preventing oral injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American football has developed as its rules and protective equipment for players have evolved. The establishment of rules for wearing helmets and facemasks during play and the evolution of such protective equipment has especially contributed to the reduction of maxillofacial and head injuries, and now AF players can indulge in more fearless and aggressive play. Helmets and facemasks not only protect jaws, faces and heads, but also prevent many oral and dental injuries as they provide extra oral mouthguards. Mouthguards, or intra-oral mouthguards, prevent many other oral and dental injuries as well as alleviate brain concussions in players. In Kwansei Gakuin University's American football team the "Fighters." the players have been educated and required to wear mouthguards since 1982, and the efforts in player education and management have been continued. We will present a variety of mouthguards used by players and examine their benefits by reviewing the injury record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouthguard is a seriously important piece of equipment in Kumite matches of Karate. Wearing a mouthguard remarkably decreases traumatic injuries of the teeth and oral soft tissue. A custom-made mouthguard is strongly recommended for better performance. Additionally, customization of the mouthguard is required in consideration of individual characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the result of the study which examines the effects of football (soccer) headgear outside of the laboratory setting. He stresses that the study supports previous research which reveal that female football players are probably more at risk for concussion than male football players. He also asserts that the researchers were prudent to conduct a study of this nature before commencing a prospective study that might introduce a protective equipment not yet studied.

This article offers an overview of two studies on work-related injury. Published in "Journal of Public Health Medicine," the first study showed that accidents at work were the fourth most common cause of injury. In the second study, the researchers compared injury rates in American football and New Zealand club rugby union and investigated the effects of the use of protective equipment in the sports.

Monitor is a brief review of selected recent research. In this issue, Monitor includes: hearing loss in entertainment workers; hypothenar hammer syndrome; sporting injury in workers; use of protective equipment in rugby players; and the correct insertion of ear plugs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]