Biomechanical considerations in the design of equipment to prevent sports injury

Abstract

The international market for sports equipment is enormous. One component of that market is explicitly equipment to prevent injury, and ideally all equipment should enable performance without causing injury. This paper will describe a biomechanical approach to the design of equipment to prevent sports injury. Elements in this approach include understanding and applying: injury risk management methods to set objectives; injury mechanisms; human tolerance to loads; range of sports loads (normal and abnormal); objectives of sport and sports skills; efficacy and effectiveness of current and past equipment; user expectations (usability, mass, aesthetics); standards requirements; setting performance objectives; identifying and testing materials; assessing materials and component testing; prototype testing; final product; and product evaluation and continuous control.