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| Research Title: |
Community football players attitudes towards protective equipment |
| Type of Research: |
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| Category: |
Protective Equipment
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| Keywords: |
Football
Headgear
Helmet
Mouthguard
Protective equipment
Attitude
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| Author(s): |
R A Braham, C F Finch, A McIntosh & P McCrory |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
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| Release Date: |
30 May 2006 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
Personal protective equipment is used to control injury risk in many physical activities. Participation in Australian Football at all levels carries a risk of head, neck and dental injury.
Although there is inconclusive evidence for the use of headgear in Australian football for preventing or reducing the severity of head injuries, it is believed that headgear may reduce lacerations and soft tissue injuries. Dentist-fitted mouthguards are regarded as effective in reducing dental injuries in contact sports.
A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of protective equipment use (headgear and mouthguards) in community level Australian footballers commenced during the 2001 pre-season. Three hundred and one players participated in the pre-season baseline survey which documented demographic information, playing and injury history, current use of and attitude towards personal protective equipment.
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| Research Objectives: |
The paper documents the current attitude of community Australian football players towards personal protective equipment, in particular mouthguards and headgear.
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| Research Outcomes: |
The study found that the behaviours and general beliefs of the players were that mouthguards are necessary during games but not during training, irrespective of the level of competition; and that headgear is not necessary at any time.
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| Research Implications: |
Wearing protective equipment is a type of behaviour, and players’ attitudes towards protective equipment will influence their behavioural practices. It is important to establish players’ current behavioural knowledge about protective equipment before effective efforts to promote protective equipment can be developed.
Dislike and comfort were the most commonly reported reasons for not wearing protective headgear and mouthguards. The most common personal reasons that would lead to a change in behaviour in headgear use were injury and the influence of an authoritative person. Injury prevention was the most common reason for change of behaviour in mouthguard use.
Further education of players, coaches and support staff of the importance of personal protective equipment is warranted.
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