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.