Force-attenuating characteristics of ice hockey shin guards: An investigation of the knee and tibial sections of varying quality shin guards.

摘要

The purpose of this experiment was to test the mechanical response of varying quality ice hockey shin guards under appropriate impact conditions. Junior shin guards (n = 5) and adult shin guards ( n = 14) were analyzed independently. The results of the junior experiment revealed that many shin guards included in the experiment sustained some degree of material damage. However, even in a damaged state, variations in mechanical response to impact conditions did exist between the shin guards. The results of the adult experiment revealed that some shin guards used in the experiment sustained some degree of material damage. Significant interaction effects (p 0.05) of shin guard and impact energy level were revealed for all ANOVAs performed that included two or three impact energy levels. For the ANOVAs performed including only one impact energy level, significant main effects (p 0.05) of shin guard were revealed. Similarly to the junior experiment, not only did adult shin guards vary from one another in their mechanical responses to the impact conditions, variations in mechanical responses also existed between the tibia and knee locations of any one shin guard. Softer or more compliant shin guards, as characterized by lower loading rate values, did tend to reduce peak force, and increase time to peak force. As a result, more compliant shin guards transmitted less of an impulse and therefore absorbed more energy in the process. These findings suggest that more compliant shin guards can offer a degree of injury prevention for athletes. Implications of the findings are discussed in light of experimental design limitations.