Female participation in high-contact sports has increased
dramatically in the past two decades, raising concern regarding injury to
the female breast and the need for protective equipment. While the use of
chest/breast protectors by women is advocated, little is known of their
efficacy and effect on athletic performance. The purpose of this study was
to determine the effects of chest/breast protector use on measures of
performance and comfort, and to determine the mechanical response of
the protectors to applied impacts.
The four chest/breast protectors selected for study included rigid
polyethylene and flexible closed-cell foam styles. To evaluate physiological
and comfort differences among the control (no protector) condition and the
protectors, female subjects completed a submaximal treadmill running
protocol, during which metabolic, skin temperature and perceived
comfort data were collected. To evaluate effects on general agility,
subjects completed a timed agility test. To assess cushioning properties,
the vertical acceleration-time and force-displacement histories of a
projectile during surface contact with each protector were analyzed using
a drop test method. Analysis of variance methods were used to compare
metabolic, temperature, comfort, agility, and energy absorption variables.
Graphic presentations accompanied by qualitative interpretation of data
across the time history of the impacts were used to describe cushioning
properties of the protectors.
The chest/breast protectors in this study did not significantly
increase oxygen consumption for submaximal treadmill running. Some
but not all protectors produced significantly higher skin temperatures
than the no-protector condition. Greater temperatures and temperature
differentials between the skin and exterior equipment surface were
associated with multiple plastic/fabric layers and closed-cell foam
construction. No protectors produced significantly higher ratings of
thermal sensation or perceived skin wettedness than the control
condition. Two protectors were assessed as similar to the control
condition on general comfort sensation while two were deemed to be
significantly less comfortable. There was no decrease in general agility
associated with protector wear. The closed cell foam protector generally
showed better shock attenuation characteristics, while the rigid protectors
generally demonstrated superior shock absorption. Relationships with
regard to cushioning properties changed in response to systematic
variation of missile mass and drop height. / Graduation date: 1992
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36267 |
| Date | 26 July 1991 |
| Creators | Lawson, LaJean |
| Contributors | Wilcox, Anthony |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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