AN ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF SOCCER SHIN GUARDS

Worldwide >40 million amateurs participate in the team sport of soccer . With 647,368 injuries occurring from 1989 through 1992, the risk of injury during the play of soccer is evident. Lower extremity injuries have been found to comprise 13.1% of the total injuries in soccer. To date, a comprehensive evaluation of protective equipment utilized to p revent lower extremity injuries in soccer has been lacking. This study utilized a 5th percentile Hybrid III female dummy to evaluate the eff ectiveness of shin guards in attenuating the forces which can lead to lower extremity injuries. A pendulum impact apparatus simulated one pl ayer being kicked by another. Impacts were delivered to the anterior t ibial region of the Hybrid III dummy and peak loads were recorded. Loa d forces were reduced 41.2-77.1% with the utilization of shin guards. Even at extreme temperatures, the guards were found to be effective in lowering the amount of impact force transferred to the shin region. T he results of this study indicate that the use of shin guards will att enuate the force of impact to the tibia and thus reduce the risk of in jury.