In everyday sports and exercise, injuries like sprained ankles and wrists are common occurrences. Therefore, it is advisable to wear specialized sports protective gear to prevent such injuries. But what types of sports protective gear are there, and how do you choose and use the appropriate gear?
1. Classification and Purpose of Sports Protective Gear
Protective gear is a tool designed to protect you from injury. Generally, it can be divided into the following categories: head guards, shoulder pads, hand guards, elbow pads, wrist guards, waist supports, leg guards, knee pads, ankle guards, combination sports protective gear, and other types of sports protective gear.
1.1 Knee Pads
- Purpose of Knee Pads
Knee pads are often used by athletes participating in sports such as volleyball, basketball, badminton, and more. They are also frequently used by people doing high-load exercises like weightlifting and fitness training. Using knee pads can effectively stabilize the joints, reduce the impact and wear on the joints during exercise, and prevent skin damage from falls during activities.
- How to Choose Knee Pads?
High-quality knee pads are generally soft to the touch and not hard; they should have good breathability and those with holes are better for sweat evaporation; pay attention to whether the design is reasonable, the knee pads should have a corresponding curvature based on the bend of our knees.
1.2 Waist Supports
- Purpose of Waist Supports
Waist supports are often used by weightlifters and throwers, and some athletes also frequently use them during high-load strength training. Using waist supports can effectively provide support and stabilization, thus preventing waist sprains.
- How to Choose Waist Supports?
The strength of waist belts can be adjusted to correspond with one's body shape; the width of the belt should be appropriate and fit the curvature of the lumbar spine, which is beneficial for sitting, standing, or bending over; the fabric of the belt should be thin and breathable to avoid skin problems caused by heat and sweat accumulation.
1.3 Ankle Guards
- Purpose of Ankle Guards
Ankle guards are generally used more by athletes in track and field events, particularly those involved in sprinting and jumping. Using ankle guards can provide stabilization and protection for the ankle joint, preventing ankle sprains. For athletes with ankle injuries, they can effectively reduce the range of joint movement, alleviate pain, and speed up recovery.
- How to Choose Ankle Guards?
Elastic fabric ankle guards allow for full-range motion of the foot and are suitable for everyday sports protection; synthetic rubber ankle guards are chosen when extra warmth and mild compression are needed for the ankle joint; adjustable ankle guards with crisscross straps are suitable for injured and sore ankles.
1.4 Wrist Guards
- Purpose of Wrist Guards
Wrist guards are commonly used by athletes in sports such as volleyball, basketball, and badminton. They can effectively reduce excessive flexion and extension in the wrist area. Particularly in tennis where the ball speed is very fast, wearing wrist guards can reduce the impact on the wrist at the moment the ball hits the racket, thus protecting the wrist.
- How to Choose Wrist Guards?
There are two common types of wrist guards: towel-type wrist guards and bandage-type wrist guards. Towel-type wrist guards have a certain amount of elasticity and mainly serve to absorb sweat and for decorative purposes, making them suitable for the general public. Bandage-type wrist guards have less elasticity and mainly provide stabilization, making them suitable for professional sports competitions.
1.5 Shin Guards
- Shin Guard Sleeves
These have good elasticity and offer comfortable, breathable wear that is easy to put on and take off. They primarily protect the shins from strains or cramps and are suitable for activities such as cycling, soccer, and running. When purchasing, it is important to consider the compression and support offered by the shin guards, as well as their stretchability.
- Shin Guard Plates
These usually refer to shin guards used in soccer, but there are also shin guards designed for sports like hockey and field hockey. Smaller guards are generally lighter and more comfortable, suitable for forwards who like to break through and dribble; larger guards offer more protection and are heavier, suitable for defensive players in the midfield and backfield positions.
1.6 Elbow and Arm Guards
- Elbow Guards
These are protective gear used to safeguard the elbow joint, helping to reduce pain during sports activities. Elbow guards are commonly used in sports like badminton, basketball, volleyball, inline skating, and rock climbing. Good elbow guards should provide warmth, breathability, and be designed to conform to the curvature of the protected area.
- Arm Guards
Arm guards are used to maintain arm temperature and muscle tightness, which can help prevent muscle strains. They are commonly worn during basketball games and running. High-quality sports arm guards should offer resistance to stretching, a comfortable touch, breathability, and sweat-wicking properties. They may also include features like elastic metal strips for support and Velcro straps for a secure fit.
1.7 Gloves and Palm Protectors
These are used to protect the palms and fingers. In gymnastics, palm protectors are worn during rings or parallel bars exercises; in basketball, finger guards are used to prevent finger injuries; and in the gym, gloves are worn when using resistance machines or during combat sports.
1.8 Helmets
Helmets are commonly used for activities like inline skating, skateboarding, cycling, and rock climbing. They can reduce or even eliminate the impact of objects on the head to ensure safety. When choosing a helmet, its strength should be considered. Press inward on the front, back, and sides of the helmet to see if it easily deforms.
1.9 Goggles
Goggles are mainly used to protect the eyes from impacts or poking injuries during sports, commonly in basketball. Good basketball goggles must have strong impact resistance and ideally be made of materials like polycarbonate or polypropylene which offer good toughness. The color should not be too bright, as it may affect vision.
1.10 Shoulder and Neck Protectors
These provide stability and protection for the tissues around the neck and shoulder joints, and are suitable for intense contact sports like basketball, mountaineering, and combat sports. Good shoulder and neck protectors should not only be breathable and sweat-permeable but also anti-slip, ensuring they stay in place without shifting or skewing.
2. Selection of Sports Protective Gear
In general, the selection of sports protective gear should be based on the characteristics of the sport in which the athlete is participating or on the athlete's own situation.
- Selecting Protective Gear Based on the Type of Sport
Each sport has its own characteristics, and thus the parts of the body that are prone to injury can be commonly identified and summarized. When choosing protective gear, it's important to consider the specific characteristics of the chosen sport. For example, in ball sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer, knee pads and ankle guards are commonly used. In fitness activities, support belts, waist belts, knee pads, and elbow guards are often employed. Sports injuries can occur among athletes at all levels of training, but they are most likely to occur among beginners and high-level athletes. Beginners may not have mastered the technical movements, and improper technique can lead to joint injuries, which are typically more recoverable. On the other hand, high-level athletes may have solid technical skills but push their training volume and loads to the limits, resulting in joint injuries that are more difficult to recover from. In such cases, wearing protective gear can play a significant role.
- Selecting Protective Gear Based on Personal Characteristics
Every individual has their own sports history and understanding of their body's condition. When choosing protective gear, it is important to protect one's relatively weak or previously injured joints with targeted protective gear. For example, athletes with weaker knee joints can choose knee pads with better stability to reinforce the joint during training and competition.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Sports Protective Gear
The use of protective gear in sports comes with various opinions online regarding its pros and cons. Of course, these advantages and disadvantages are conditional. The following summarizes the benefits and drawbacks of using sports protective gear during physical activity.
3.1 Advantages of Using Protective Gear in Sports
- Protects joints by increasing joint stability to some extent, reducing the likelihood of joint injuries.
- Provides a degree of cushioning against external forces that can cause joint injuries.
- Assists in maintaining joint stability after an injury, limiting the range of motion of the injured area to prevent secondary injuries and aid in the recovery of the injured joint.
3.2 Disadvantages of Using Protective Gear in Sports
- Using protective gear without pain can restrict joint mobility to a certain extent, affecting the execution of sports techniques.
- Compresses skin pores at the joint area covered by the gear, affecting the breathing of the skin in that area.
4. How to Decide Whether to Wear Sports Protective Gear?
Given that sports protective gear has its pros and cons, should one choose to wear it during physical activity?
- If a particular joint is already injured and you still need to engage in physical activity, it is advised to wear protective gear for the affected joint.
- If a joint is weak but is subject to a high volume of movement, heavy loads, or extended periods of activity, wearing protective gear for that joint is recommended.
- If a joint is unstable after an injury has healed, it is suggested to wear protective gear for that joint.
- After an injury has healed, if there is a psychological fear of re-injury that prevents full movement, wearing protective gear can help prevent psychological issues from affecting the execution of sports techniques.
