Impact Protective Clothing in Sport: Areas of Application and Level of Utilization

Each year, 75 million people worldwide suffer from different sporting injuries. It has been shown that the majority of these injuries occur among athletes who did not wear protective equipment. The diversity of demands in sport requires a wide range of products for sufficient body protection, but to be efficient, the benefit of the protective clothing and equipment must meet the athlete's approval. Major impact protective clothing of five popular sports and its role in injury prevention have been identified through a systematic review of the literature. It has been found that although a variety of impact protectors are available, and most athletes are aware of their effectiveness in preventing injuries, the use of impact protective clothing and equipment is often rejected by athletes. Impact protectors in sport are designed to protect people, but their shock-absorbing ability often stands in contradiction to their wearing comfort and freedom of movement. In order for impact protecting clothing to gain wider acceptance and encourage use that is more regular during sport, sportswear and sporting textile devices that incorporate impact protective components must fulfil the requirements not only for effective protection, but also the athlete's performance and comfort.