Quantifying the effects of ice hockey upper body pads on mobility and comfort.

ABSTRACT: Ice hockey is a high-intensity sport in which pads such as shoulder and elbow pads (S/EPs) are necessary to help players avoid injury. However, they can also affect mobility and comfort, thereby affecting players' on-ice performance. We aimed to quantify the effects of S/EPs on mobility and comfort by comparing the range of motion (ROM) of nine elite college-level ice hockey players performing static (nine single-DOF upper-body movements) and dynamic (wrist and slap shots) tasks under six pad conditions (no S/EPs and five types of S/EPs). We also analyzed the relationship between ROM and subjective comfort to provide an objective comfort evaluation of hockey pads. Five types of S/EPs restrict ROM at different levels, imposing additional mobility restrictions. We found significant differenc

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10758976 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature