The Benefits of Using custom football shin guards

The Effectiveness of Shin Guards Used by Football Players

ABSTRACT

In football, injuries from opponent contact occur commonly in the lower extremities. FIFA, the world’s governing body for football, requires players to wear shin guards. This study aimed to compare the protective effectiveness of polypropylene-based shin guards with custom-made carbon fiber ones. The study examined three commercial polypropylene shin guards (Adidas Predator™, Adidas UCL™, and Nike Mercurial™) and two custom-made carbon fiber shin guards. The experimental setup included a pendulum with a load cell at the tip and a prosthetic foot equipped with a cleat to simulate an attacker’s foot. An artificial tibia made of condensed foam and reinforced by carbon fibers, protected with soft clothing, was used. A multifunctional sensor system recorded the impact on the tibia. In low impact force trials, only 2.79-9.63% of the load was transmitted to the sensors. The carbon fiber shin guards performed better in mean force, peak force, and impulse than the commercial ones, with the Nike Mercurial™ outperforming others. In high impact force trials, only 5.16-10.90% of the load was transmitted. Again, carbon fiber shin guards offered superior protection. The study concludes that carbon fiber shin guards are superior in protective qualities compared to commercial polypropylene ones. For more information, please visit eude.

Key words: Football, carbon, force, prevention, shin guard

Key Points

• Shin guards decrease the risk of serious injuries.
• Carbon shin guards provide sufficient protection against high impact forces.
• Commercially available Polypropylene-based shin guards do not provide sufficient protection against high impact forces.

INTRODUCTION

Football is the most popular team sport worldwide; therefore, managing the associated risks is crucial. Soft tissue injuries like strains and sprains are common, but fractures are more severe, accounting for 2-11% of all football injuries and 30-33% of lower extremity fractures. Unexpected actions like kicks or slide tackles often cause these injuries. FIFA established the Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) to investigate and prevent football-related health risks. Shin guards are recommended for protecting the lower extremities from external impact. They absorb shock and dissipate energy, reducing the risk of serious injuries. While many agree that shin guards reduce minor injuries, their effectiveness in preventing serious injuries like tibia fractures remains unclear. Tackles can tear or damage shin guards, and they may not always prevent fractures.

Using appropriate materials and geometry is vital for football equipment design. Currently, rigid materials like plastic, carbon, and kevlar are used for the outer shell, while soft materials are preferred for the lining. A well-designed shin guard should protect the shank while allowing ankle and knee movement. Thicker and more rigid shin guards in the transverse direction increase energy absorption, but longer guards do not necessarily offer better protection. Fitting the shin guard to the tibial geometry with soft materials or filling gaps with semi-rigid materials can reduce peak impact force. Although many advocate for shin guards, ideal structural design characteristics haven't been explicitly defined. The BS EN 13061 standard for shin guards aims to prevent lacerations and contusions but not tibia fractures, focusing on preventing harm from striker’s cleats rather than high kinetic energy impacts. For more details, view our custom football shin guards.