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| Research Title: |
Acceptability of baseball face guards and reduction of oculofacial injury in receptive youth league players. |
| Type of Research: |
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| Category: |
Protective Equipment
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| Keywords: |
Baseball
Dental injury
Face guards
Facial injury
Helmet
Oculofacial injury
Youth
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| Author(s): |
R P Danis, K Hu, M Bell |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
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| Release Date: |
01 June 2006 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
Baseball accounts for most sports related facial injuries requiring medial attention in the US and for most severe ocular injuries. It is also a leading cause of dental injury and maxillofacial fractures among child players. Face guards that affix to the ear flaps on the standard baseball batter’s helmet are commercially available but rarely used by players. Two groups of youth league players participated in the study during the 1997 season. Questionnaires were administered to players, coaches and parents at the beginning and end of the season to collect information about the use of faceguards and their effect on past and current season injuries. A facial injury reported by a player was included in the analysis if sufficient descriptive details were given or if a parent or coach corroborated the report.
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| Research Objectives: |
The goals of the study were to evaluate the preventive effect of face guard use and to determine their acceptability.
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| Research Outcomes: |
There was a reduction in facial injuries among the intervention team players in this study. While these findings are not conclusive because injuries were not verified by medical examination, they are consistent with a relative injury prevention effect of the faceguard.
The study investigated the attitudes of coaches, parents and players and found that if coaches presented face guards in a positive light, parents and players were prepared to accept them as routine safety equipment. While there were complaints about the use of faceguards by players – played worse with it, discomfort and vision obstruction – the majority thought it was “OK” to wear. Over 27% of players thought they played better with it and 41.5% said they were less afraid of the ball.
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| Research Implications: |
To foster the use of faceguards it is necessary to further educate coaches regarding the benefits of protective equipment. Mandating the use of faceguards should be considered.
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| Availability of Full Research Paper: |
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