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An athletic trainer must master designing and crafting protective gear using a range of materials such as gauze, cotton, felt, foam, and plastics. Understanding theoretical padding construction is crucial. Learn about casting techniques, thermomoldable materials, and more to create durable shields against injuries. Explore the artful combination of science and craftsmanship in building athletic support devices that enhance performance and prevent harm. Discover how to select the right materials for firm pressure, absorption, thermomolding, and energy absorption when designing orthotics, braces, splints, or athletic gear.
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Construction of Protective and Supportive Devices • An athletic trainer should be able to design and construct protective devices • Must have knowledge of theoretical basis of padding construction • Art form based on science • A variety of materials is available • Hard and soft materials
Soft materials • Gauze: versatile, can be used for protection or absorption • Cotton: cheapest and more widely used (absorbent, holds emollients and offers mild padding • Adhesive felt (moleskin, spongy rubber): • Felt: matted wool fibers, pressed in a variety of thicknesses • Semi-resilient providing firm pressure • Absorbent and clings to skin (less tendency to move) • Must be replaced daily due to absorbent qualities
Foam: many uses with many densities • Resilient, non-absorbent material that protects against compressive force • Open vs. closed cells (return to shape) • Thermomoldable • Some have viscoelastic polymers and are energy absorbent • Non-yielding Materials • Thermomoldable plastics • Used in orthotics, braces, splints and for shielding body parts • Casting, support for foot, protect contusions
Three types • Heat forming - heat and can be molded (Orthoplast) • Heat setting - rigid and difficult to form and may require a mold • Heat plastic foams- different densities due to the addition of liquids, gas, or crystals • - Commonly used in shoe inserts • Casting Materials • Casting has long been a practice in sports medicine • Fiberglass is the material of choice which uses resin and catalytic converter, plus water to produce hardening • Effective shell for splinting and padding