KWE Protector (Knuckle, Wrist and Elbow)

Abstract

Increased popularity of youth softball and baseball leagues have resulted in nearly 2 million injuries annually. Most sports related injuries occur during practice due to a lack of safety precautions, but are preventable. Protective equipment is available for baseball/softball sports, but there is a lack of protection for the knuckles, wrist, and elbow. These areas are vulnerable to a direct impact of the ball and can result in serious injury. The KWE Protector may prevent and decrease injury to the key areas of the hand and arm (knuckle, wrist, and elbow) for continual use and productivity in the baseball/softball sport. The KWE Protector will have protective padding areas covering the key areas that will allow the player to easily move the arm. The KWE Protector will be available for both male and females of youth and adolescents to provide adequate protection and continued enjoyment of the sport for everyone involved.

Description

INTRODUCTION

There are approximately 30 million children and adolescents that annually participate in organized sports. There are about 3.5 million children that receive some type of medical treatment as a result of sports injuries each year. The rate and severity of the injury also increases with the child's age, with high school students accounting for nearly 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations. There are about 62 percent of organized sports related injuries occurring during practice due to a lack of safety precautions not taken as seriously as during an actual game. Although these statistics are quite alarming, more than half of all sports injuries are preventable. In the year 2001, there were 170,902 baseball related injuries and 118,354 softball related injuries. There has also been a fivefold increase in serious shoulder and elbow injuries in youth baseball and softball players. Protective equipment is available for baseball/softball sports, but there is a lack of protection for the knuckles, wrist, and elbow. These areas are vulnerable to a direct impact of the ball and can result in serious injury such as bruising, sprains, fractured and broken bones, which can result in long term and irreversible injuries. Children and adolescents may also have a lack of confidence after being hit in those key areas. Approximately 20 percent of children ages 8 to 12 years and 45 percent of adolescents, ages 13 and 14 will suffer from arm pain during a single baseball/softball season. By the time children reach age 13, approximately 70 percent of kids will drop out of youth sports. This could be due to a decision by the parent, coach, or child resulting from a previous injury.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this product (KWE Protector) is to prevent and decrease injury to the key areas of the hand and arm (knuckle, wrist, and elbow) for continual use and high productivity in the baseball/softball sport. The KWE Protector will focus on all ages in fast pitch baseball/softball, both male and female. There will be left and right handed KWE protectors in youth and adult small, medium, and large sizes. Different colors will also be available.

MATERIAL

The material used for the KWE Protector consists of nylon and lycra for the middle area of the forearm and the protective padding areas consists of a polyethylene foam. The elasticity of the nylon and lycra material allows the baseball/softball player to easily move the arm without feeling constricted. This material is also durable, which is needed for the consistent movement of the arm from this sport. Nylon and lycra are good for moisture absorption which has a high resistance to fungi, molds and mildew. This is necessary to protect the outer areas of the hand and arm when perspiration is present. This material is also non-flammable because it melts instead of burns when high heat or flames makes contact with it. The threading on the KWE Protector consists of stretch mercerized cotton and polyester. Cotton threading is usually mercerized which makes the thread smooth and shiny and adds strength. Cotton is also heat-resistant, making it a better choice because of the need for pressed and consistent seams. Polyester threading is suitable for most fabrics because it has some stretch ability. The two blended threads are suitable for man-made or natural fabrics, and are typically designed with a cotton filament wrapped around a polyester core thread, providing both durability and stretch for the material. The polyethylene foam consists of thick padding to provide the protection needed when a direct strike hits the key areas of the hand and arm. Polyethylene foam is very durable and will hold up against direct strikes from the baseball/softball. Polyethylene foam has a low thermal conductivity, which makes it heat resistant. This will help when the protector is worn in high temperatures and when body heat increases while playing.

This is only a model and should not be tested due to the lack of proper thickness of the polyethylene foam.

Nylon and lycra materials are commonly used and cost effective. Polyethylene foam is also cost effective and used in baseball and football helmets to withstand the impact of a ball being thrown and collisions with surfaces and other players. These materials combined with the blended threading will ensure the KWE Protector's durability.

DESCRIPTION

The KWE Protector will prevent and decrease injury to the key areas of the hand and forearm. A minimum ⅛″ thick padding will protect the knuckle area which consists of the metacarpals on the posterior side of the hand. This padding will also extend into the wrist area protecting the carpal bones on both of the anterior and posterior sides. The nylon and lycra material without the padding will extend from the beginning and middle section of the forearm. The padding will begin after the middle section of the arm extending just past the elbow to the humerus bone. The padding will protect the cuboital area which consists of the proximal end of the ulna and radius, extending just past the distal end of the elbow on the posterior side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the correct batting stance with the KWE protector on the left hand, elbow and arm with padded and non-padded areas.

FIG. 2 illustrates the anterior and posterior views of the key areas (knuckles, wrist, and elbow) where the KWE protector will protect with the padding.

FIG. 3 illustrates the anterior and posterior views of the KWE protector on the hand and arm that protects the carpal and metacarpal bones.

FIG. 4 illustrates the anterior and posterior views of the KWE protector on the hand and and arm that protects the humerus, radius, and ulna bones.

CONCLUSION

There is currently a high participation rate of youth and adolescents involved in sporting activities and the number will continue to grow as the years progress. As participation in sports increases, the injury rates will also increase. The KWE Protector will prevent and decrease injury to the knuckles, wrist, and elbow area of the arm by protecting against bruising, sprains, fractures, and broken bones. The KWE Protector will also prevent lack of confidence commonly exhibited by players after direct impacts to the hand and arm from the baseball/softball. The KWE Protector will be available for both male and females of youth and adolescents to provide adequate protection and continued enjoyment of the sport for everyone involved.

REFERENCES

• Annie's Crafts. “Thera-Glove® Wrist Wrap Gloves.” Web. 27 Jul. 2013. http://www.anniescatalog.com/pages/thread.html
• Annie's Crafts. “Thread Guidelines: Treading Your Way Around Thread.” Web. 27 July 2013. http://www.anniescatalog.com/pages/thread.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Injury Prevention. Web. 14 Sep. 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/injury/
• Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. “Sports Injury Statistics.” Web. 14 Sep. 2012. http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/21759/router.asp
• Cox, Dr. Wesley, “Play Ball . . . Play Safe.” An Orthopedic Surgeon's Guide to Youth Baseball Injury Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation for Parents, Coaches, and Players. 2013
• Jokela, Markus Power, Chris, Kivimaki, Mika. “Childhood Problem Behaviors and Injury Risk over the Life Course.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Vol. 50, n12, p1541-1549. 2009
• National Center for Sports Injuries. “Sports Injury Facts.” Web. 14 Sep. 2012. http://www.sportssafety.org/content/Home.aspx
• NCAA Injury Surveillance System. “Hand Injuries by Mechanism, Baseball and Softball.” Web. 27 Jul. 2013. http://www.asmi.org/injuriesInBaseball.php?page=baseball course&section=objective
• NCAA Injury Surveillance System. “Top 10 Injuries in Softball/Baseball Injury Rates.” Web. 27 Jul. 2013. http://www.asmi.org/injuriesInBaseball.php?page=baseball course&section=objective
• Safe Kids USA Campaign Website. “Preventing Sports Related Injuries.” Web. 2012. http://www.safekids.org/search?search api views fulltext=youth+sports
• Shier, David. Butler, Jackie. Lewis, Ricki. Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology. 12^th Edition. McGraw Hill Companies. 2010

Claims

1. I claim the KWE protector is used for the softball and baseball sports that is comprised to fit the hand and arm directly exposed to the ball being pitched to the batter. It has padding that protects the knuckles, the wrist and forearm along with material that covers the padding coming from the knuckles to the area just past the elbow on both anterior and posterior sides.