Do You Need Safety Pads or Safety Guards for Your Sport?
Safety pads and guards are standard safety equipment in dozens of sports. When used correctly, these pieces of protective sports gear significantly reduce injuries during contact sports and sports with a high risk of falling on a hard surface. Consider using the appropriate protective pads and guards for the sports you play.
Safety Pads for Sports
If you play certain contact sports, such as football, hockey or lacrosse, protective pads are mandatory, but you should wear pads for any contact sport that has a risk of falling on a hard surface or where there is a possibility of colliding with other players. The type and style of pads seem endless and include the following.- Knee Pads
Knee pads provide a cushioned protective layer over the knee cap, which helps prevent damage to the knee cap during falls or collisions. Some knee pads also provide compression and shock absorption. Most knee pads are made of elastic or neoprene over a synthetic foam cushion.Consider using knee pads for football, hockey, inline skating, volleyball, and wrestling.
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- Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads are designed with a shock absorbing foam material covered with a a hard plastic outer shell. Shoulder pads are designed for the specific sports and position of the player in that sport. It's important to buy the right shoulder pads for your position and adjust them to fit your body.Consider using shoulder pads for football, hockey, and lacrosse.
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- Elbow Pads
Elbow pads are protective cushioned pads with a hard plastic sheel that are worn on the elbows to protect them in case of a fall or impact.Consider using elbow pads for football, hockey, inline skating, skateboarding, volleyball, and wrestling.
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- Hip Pads
Hip pads slide into the uniform of many athletes and protect the hips from contusions and bruises (such as a hip pointer) during sports that may result in a fall or impact to the hip.Consider using hip pads for football, hockey, inline skating, and skateboarding.
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- Thigh Pads
Thigh pads also slide into the uniform of many athletes and protect the front of the thigh from damage due to a collision during some contact sports.Consider using thigh pads for football, hockey and cricket.
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Safety Guards for Sports
Safety guards for sports over a protective hard plastic shell that generally covers a joint or an area of the body that is vulnerable to damage from an impact during sports. These hard plastic guards prevent cuts, scrapes and abrasions and reduce the odds of a major sprain, strain or even a fracture after a hard fall. The guards generally don't have as much padded or shock absorption as the protective pads.- Shin Guards
Shin guards are hard molded plastic covers that fit over the front of the lower leg (shin) and usually slide right into a players sock or are attached by elastic straps. They protect the shins (tibia) from damage due to hard impacts.Consider using shin guards for football, soccer, hockey, baseball and cricket.
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- Mouth Guards
Mouth guards can be custom-fitted by your dentist or purchased at any sporting goods store and molded to fit your teeth. They protect the teeth, mouth and jaw from serious injuries from a hard fall, collision or other impacts.Consider using mouth guards for football, soccer, hockey, baseball and cricket.
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- Wrist Guards
Wrist guards are hard molded plastic covers that fit tightly over the palm of the hand and wrist and prevent the wrist from sprains, fractures or abrasions during a hard fall on an outstretched arm.Consider using wrist guards for football, inline skating, skateboarding, and snowboarding.
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- Knee Guards
Knee guards provide a hard plastic protective cover over the knee cap. This can prevent damage to the knee cap during falls or collisions.Consider using knee guards for football, soccer, hockey, inline skating, snowboarding, skateboarding and cricket.
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- Elbow Guards
Elbow guards provide a hard plastic protective cover over the elbow joint, which prevents injury to the elbow in case of a fall or other type of collision.Consider using elbow guards for football, soccer, hockey, inline skating, snowboarding and wrestling.
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