Proof that McDavid's Hexpad Shorts are great for rodeo and other sports where you need tailbone padding and protection.

The important thing is that they stay in place, otherwise they won't do much good.

Injuries occur in every sport. Within the past decade there has been an increase in the awareness within the general population of the risks of sports-related injuries and safety measures to prevent them. For those who engage in action sports, or extreme sports as they are commonly referred to, injuries can be especially traumatic, even with the proper protection.

The most commonly occurring injuries in the action sports arena are as follows:

• Fractures- broken bones

• Strains/Sprains- injuries to the soft tissue including muscles, tendons and ligaments

• Lacerations- disruptions, or cuts in the skin

• Bruising- a pooling of blood beneath the surface of the skin

These injuries occur in one of two manners.

• Chronic/repetitive use injuries- examples of this type of injury are stress fractures and muscle tears.

• Acute injuries- result from trauma and commonly include injuries such as fractures and head injuries.

Some sports have injuries that are more common to them than to other sports. Among skateboarders and inline skaters for example, the incidence of wrist and elbow injuries is high compared to other sports. Mountain climbing is a sport for which chronic use injuries are common.

In action sports, pushing the limits is a continuous drive for most athletes. Regular conditioning and practice sessions frequently involve more risk than most traditional athletes face. With the continuous increase in physical achievements there has also been an increase in physical injuries. The following are some of the more shocking and memorable injuries that have occurred in action sports.

• Mat Hoffman- This BMX champion suffered an accident, which ruptured his spleen and led to cardiac arrest from which he was luckily revived.

• Brian Deegan- Years of MotoX riding have contributed to a long list of injuries for Deegan including a wreck in which he lost not only a kidney, but also four pints of blood.

• Danelle Ballengee- Adventure racer Ballengee was on a trail run when she slipped on a patch of ice and fell over a ledge. She suffered multiple injuries and was forced to spend the night alone in the Moab backcountry before being rescued the following day.

• Jake Brown- During X Games 13 he suffered one of the most dramatic falls in skateboarding history and walked away, albeit with numerous injuries, and the silver medal.

Injuries don’t just happen to professional athletes. Each year more people are joining the ranks of action sports devotees. Although there is no way to completely prevent injuries while participating in action sports there are several ways to prepare for, and minimize the damage caused. Of course, you should always wear protective gear (helmets, pads, etc) that is designed specifically for your sport. If at all possible, have a cell phone or radio with you so that you can call for help should you need it. Have a first aid kit nearby and consider enrolling in a First Aid course (either a standard course or one designed for wilderness survival). Also, if you are heading out alone or going into the country, tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back.

Reprinted with permission from author, Jodi Gallegos

We've always loved AllSport Dyamics Wrist Brace and I guess we aren't the only one.  Transworld Motocross just reviewed it their latest issue.  Here are their findings.  To see full article click here

ALLSPORTS DYNAMICS WRIST BRACE

Transword Motocross RATING: 9.5

WHAT IT IS:

Allsport Dynamics is the originator of off-the-shelf wrist protection as well as custom wrist braces. But with the advancement of OTS technology, the company has decided to put the majority of its focus on the universal OTS brace rather than the high dollar super-expensive custom made braces. The frame of the OTS brace is made out of an epoxy resin, carbon fiber, and Kevlar composite with a lace liner consisting of two straps—one on the palm and one on the forearm—to keep it in place and allow for fitment on varying sizes of wrists. There are also three different wrist stops—zero degrees, 20 degrees, and 40 degrees—that can be mounted to give the wrist less or more movement depending on a rider’s preference or range of motion in their wrist. Also adding to the adjustment of the brace is that there are two thumb straps. One is designed to be cut off depending on what arm the brace is needed for.

HITS:

Like any type of brace or protective gear, the Allsports Dynamics OTS brace takes a little getting used to, but once you do the lightweight frame and comfortable adjustable liner make it almost unnoticeable. For riders that have recently injured their wrists, these braces are a must have. And the varying stops, which allow you to graduate up to the smallest once your range of motion increases, make the wrist work great for riders rehabbing after an injury. The lace liner helps with the comfort factor of the brace, as it allows for it to not be tightened down too much, giving room for the always dreaded arm pump if it occurs. While we’re on the subject of armpump, though, we must say that once you have the lace liner tightness dialed in, the OTS brace doesn’t add to the armpump factor. Here at TWMX , quite a few staffers actually wear either one or two OTS braces as a preventative measure, as they started wearing one after an injury and haven’t stopped.

MISSES:

It’s really difficult to find a miss about this product, but if we had to we would have to say that the palm strap wears out, albeit after quite some time though. Also, it would be nice if somehow the brace stopped the wrist from being pushed forward in the event of a crash, but without putting something on the palms and obstructing your grip, that seems like a difficult task.

THE VERDICT:

If you have ever suffered a wrist injury or if you just want to prevent one, take a look at the Allsport Dynamics OTS Brace, you won’t be disappointed. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and does a great job of keeping you just that much safer when you ride.

Thanks Transworld  and Brendon Lutes for this great review!

Basketball Leg Injury

• Warm up properly.
• Strengthen the muscles in the entire leg. Walking stairs and weight training are good strengthening exercises.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes that don’t fit or are substandard can increase risk of injury
• Stretch consistently and properly to lengthen muscle limits. Many times, injuries occur when muscles which are not often stretched are pushed beyond their limits.

Basketball Knee Injury Prevention

• Warm up properly.
• Strengthen the muscles in the entire leg to prevent loss of stability. A knee injury can be caused when unstable ligaments and muscles are pushed physically. Walking stairs and weight training are good strengthening exercises.
• Stretch consistently and properly to lengthen muscle limits. Many times, injuries occur when muscles which are not often stretched are pushed beyond their limits.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes that don’t fit or are substandard can increase risk of injury.
• Consider a knee brace during practices and play, particularly if you have a history of knee injury. A knee brace can provide added stability to decrease the chance for abnormal pressure to be applied to the ligaments. The DonJoy knee brace provides many choices for bracing, so you should be able to find a knee brace that fits your needs.

Basketball Ankle Injury Prevention Info

• Warm up and stretch prior to playing or practicing.
• Wear proper footwear. Shoes that don’t fit or are substandard can increase risk of ankle injury.
• Train for ankle flexibility, strength, and balance. By incorporating Achilles tendon stretching and mobility exercises into a workout routine, the ankle keeps a high range of motion. A limited range of motion can increase the chance of an ankle injury.
• Balance is also important, and should be considered in all running and jumping. When an individual lands on one foot, off balance, the likelihood for an ankle sprain is increased.
• Consider wearing an basketball ankle brace when training and playing basketball. A good ankle brace can help keep the ankle from turning, particularly when landing jumps. A few great ankle braces for basketball are the Aircast Ankle Brace – Aircast AirSport Ankle Brace, Aircast Ankle Brace - Aircast A60 and DonJoy Stabilizing Ankle Brace

Hey, it only seems like common sense that when you're 60' from someone firing a 90 MPH hardball at you, a helmet is a pretty cool thing to have covering your noodle. But like most athletes, baseball players would rather risk injury than lose even a split second's edge in competition.

History is a little misty about the first player that decided to protect his money maker and put more than a piece of cloth between his noggin and the ball.

Inventor Frank Mogridge made the first crude attempt at protective gear in 1905. He came up with something that looked like an inflatable boxing glove that wrapped around the hitter’s head. The A.J. Reach Company of Philadelphia sold it for $5. Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan experimented with it, and did him one better.

He developed a leather batting helmet in 1908 after he was severely injured by a beaning. He's considered the papa of batting helmets, although the other players snickered at the very thought of wearing one. Bresnahan, a catcher for the New York Giants, is also credited with inventing and using shinguards. Smart guy, hey?

Despite the fatal beaning of Ray Chapman by Carl Mays in 1920, batting helmets were not made mandatory in Major League Baseball until decades down the road.

According to The Way Baseball Works by Dan Gutman, Willie Wells of the 1942 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League was the first player to wear a helmet during a regular season game. It looked much like a blue collar hardhat.

But others say that the first time players wore protective headgear came during a spring training game on March 7, 1941, and continued on through the years. Pee Wee Reese and Ducky Medwick of the Dodgers wore a plastic insert after being beaned in 1940 and missing weeks of playing time.

The headpiece was designed by Johns Hopkins brain surgeon Walter Dandy, at the request of GM Larry McPhail. Those helmets were based on jockeys' hats, and were just a normal baseball cap with curved hard plastic shells slipped into a zippered compartment.

Regardless who started the idea, the first true helmet was developed by Charlie Muse at the behest of Pirate GM Branch Rickey. Muse was an executive with the club, and Rickey asked him to design and create a helmet that would protect the players' heads.

Muse was appointed president of Rickey’s American Cap Company, and came up with the first modern-day helmet, based on a miner's hardhat. Of, course, Rickey's company produced and sold them. Just a bit of serendipity, we're sure.

In 1952, the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first major league team to permanently adopt batting helmets. And Rickey was serious about it. The Pirates were ordered to wear the helmets both at bat and in the field, though thankfully that idea only lasted a couple of seasons before the fielders could leave them in the dugout.

At first, the Bucs weren't too crazy about them, and the fans got a hoot out of them too, bouncing marbles off the players' helmeted heads. But one play that year turned many players' attitudes around.

A helmeted Paul Pettit, pinch-running for the Pirates against the Cubs, was speeding toward second base to break up a DP when the shortstop's bullet relay hit him squarely in the head. "All it did was dent the helmet, and he stayed in the game," recalled Joe Garagiola, talking to SI. "Made believers out of everybody."

They became mandatory in MLB in 1971. However, they had been in use for several years before the rule. In the 1950s and 1960s, many players batted without outer helmets, but used the Dodger-style plastic inserts inside their baseball caps.

After 1971, players who were grandfathered could still choose whether or not they wanted to use a helmet. Some players, like Norm Cash and Bob Montgomery, hit without a helmet throughout their playing careers. Montgomery was the last of the helmetless dinosaurs, retiring in 1979.

Although helmets with earflaps were common in amateur sports, they were slow to gain popularity at the professional level.

Earl Battey of the Minnesota Twins developed the first helmet with an ear flap. Cub third baseman Ron Santo gets the credit for donning the first earflap helmet at the major league level, after having his left cheekbone fractured by a pitch in 1966.

BoSox Tony Conigliaro had his career cut short in August of 1967, when Jim Hamilton beaned him with an inside heater (although in Hamilton's defense, Tony C was noted for crowding the dish, and had baseballs bounce off him regularly).

The pitch hit him flush on the cheek just below the left eye. If his batting helmet had an earflap, he might have been spared from serious injury. Still, the macho attitude continued unabated.

The idea of earflaps was accepted by the players relucantly. Some batters felt that catching a glimpse of the earflap out of the corner of an eye was distracting. But in 1983, it was made mandatory for new players to use a helmet with at least one ear flap.

Grandfathered players could elect to wear a helmet without ear flaps. Tim Raines was the last player to wear an old-timey helmet until he retired in the 2002 season. His flapless Florida Marlins helmet is currently on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame with other relics of baseball's Stone Ages.

Gary Gaetti, who retired in 2000, and Ozzie Smith, who retired in 1996, also wore helmets without flaps to the end. Julio Franco was the last player eligible to wear a helmet without flaps, although he's worn a helmet with one throughout his career - and it's been a pretty long and healthy one.

MLB bat and ball boys/girls are required to wear a helmet while on the field of play. Some catchers also continue to use the no-flap helmet, wearing it backwards along with their mask, but it looks like the hockey-style mask will eventually render the old school backstopping gear obsolete.

After the 2007 death of Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh, the old-timers coaching the bases were added to the list of protected species.

The Oakland A's Rene Lachemann decided to wear a helmet out to his third base coaching position for the remainder of the 2007 season after Coolbaugh's death. This year, MLB made it mandatory for coaches to wear helmets while in the box.

Some, like the Dodger's Larry Bowa, kicked and screamed about it, but if it's good enough for the players, the league felt it was good enough for them, too.

Hey, baseball players may be hard-headed, but...

To view baseball protective gear click here

In case you weren't convicned you needed to wear sports protective gear hear is a great montage of crash videos.  For more crash videos be sure to visit www.CrashBus.com.  Also get sponsored and recieve discounts when you "hop on the bus".  Join now and you'll save on sports protective gear.

C.Y.A. Protective Gear Launches “Crash Bus” on The Loop’d Network

Specialty retailer dives into social media with interactive fun while offering action sports athletes “Proof you should gear up!” 

Carlsbad, CA - C.Y.A. Protective Gear, a  retailer of safety gear for sports, and Loop’d Network^™, the leading social network for action sports and youth culture, today launched the “Crash Bus” online community at ( www.crashbus.com ).  A killer way to engage young action sports athletes, Crash Bus features a video challenge between members to submit their “crash videos” and compete for a coveted “seat on the bus”.  Members will have the chance to “ride” weekly and C.Y.A. will provide opportunities to win protective gear as a reward for the best of the best.

“The irony is that we are really using Crash Bus to underscore the importance of gearing up to athletes and enthusiasts alike”, said Jason Zinn, President of C.Y.A. Protective Gear.  “Safety gear can prevent serious injuries and even save lives, but you can’t preach to this audience.  Everyone loves a good crash, but no one wants to see anyone get hurt.  These crash videos either demonstrate what can happen when you are not protected, or show that choosing to wear protective gear can mean the difference of walking away or not. Partnering with Loop’d to create a strong association and re-enforcement through community is what we are going for here; Crashes happen, so it’s smart to protect yourself.” 

The community will also offer members sponsorship opportunities, contests, and discounts on protective gear including Helmets, Pads, Knee and Ankle Braces, Back and Spine Protectors, Neck Braces, Mouthguards and more from top brands like Dainese, EVS Sports, SixSixOne, Bell, Shock Doctor, Pro-Tec, DonJoy and Aircast.

“Crash Bus is a unique community on the Loop’d Network that also delivers an important message”, said Scott Tilton, chief executive of Loop’d Network.  “C.Y.A. has found an innovative way to engage athletes in an interactive community while reminding them that Protective Gear can reduce injuries and in some cases save lives. It all fits together as a part of the member experience on Loop’d.” 

More…

To join the C.Y.A. community and win a chance to ride the bus visit www.crashbus.com to register and create a profile.  Once registered, members can interact and enjoy all the benefits of the community and explore across the Loop’d Network.

About C.Y.A. Protective Gear

C.Y.A. is the choice for action sports and team sports athletes alike. Focused on offering the best sports safety gear and pads, C.Y.A. is the number one destination for quality protective gear, competitive pricing, superior customer service, 24/7 access to the site and customer accounts, and a complete source of information for injury prevention and treatment. For more information, visit www.CYAProtectiveGear.com.

About Loop’d Network

Loop’d Network is THE social network for action sports and youth culture. A place for Pros, Am’s and Fans to share with friends, discover what’s happening in their favorite sports, showcase their talent, and explore life. Our unique approach to social media and brand engagement provides unprecedented opportunities to personally connect with a highly influential youth demographic in more relevant and authentic ways.  For more information, visit www.loopd.com.

Get your butt covered! 

Here is a look at our favorite padded shorts for Mountain Biking, Motocross, Skateboard and Snowboarding :

Crash Pads - Crash Pads makes great padded shorts and padded pants.

• Crash Pads Mesh Long Underwear- They'll keep you warm and they have padding on the tailbone, hip and knees.  Great for sking and boarding
• Crash Pads Mesh Underwear - Cooler material makes these shorts good for summer sports like skatboarding although they have all the right padding for snowboarding as well.
• Crash Pads Power Underwear - If you don't like the idea of mesh the high tech moisture management fabric in these shorts provide compression and have the same padding that is ideal for snowboarding as well.
• Crash Pads Mountain Bike Short - Desigined specifically for Mountain Biking these shorts combine all the features you want in a bike short, but have all the padded spots in the hip and leg areas to protect from falls while riding.  Great way to protect from abraisions as well.

Zoombang Padded Shorts-  Zoombang's unique padding material is a polymer that is specially designed and engineered to behave like no other material in the world.  At rest the material is soft and conforms to the exact shape of the player.  However when an impact occurs Zoombang will instantly becomes firm and behave as a solid.

• Zoombang Hip and Tailbone Shorts - A true compression short with wicking properties, but with the built in padding on the hip, tailbone and thigh areas.  The coverage on these shorts isn't as full as the Crash Pads on the tailbone area, but it's it's a lighter short if you are looking for a little less padding and more comfort.

Dainese MTB Impact Short - The ultimate protection for Mountain Biking.  Dainese flat out makes the best protective gear we've seen.  What else would you expect from the Italians.  Through some baggy shorts overthese and your are protected.

Rockgardn Padded Shorts - Known for the mountain bike gear Rockgardn shorts are ideal for downhill and overall protection for mountain biking and work great fro motocross as well.

• Rockgardn CYA Shorts - These padded shorts are ideal mountain biking or motocross. Each ergonomically designed pad for the hips, tailbone, and lower quads is constructed as a half-inch thick “sandwich”, made from two layers of EVA foam with a center layer of impact-distributing ABS plastic.

McDavid Padded Shorts - McDavid makes some great padded shorts, but the they are better for team sports like football and baskeball. If you happen to be reading this for some of those sports be sure to check them out.

The Azzpadz - Designed for Snowboarding.  Not really a short, more a pad you strap on.   We like it, but we find the shorts are more comfortable to wear. 

We just got our shipment in of Giro Snowboad Helmet for 2008-2009 Season.  With new features and styles now is the time to get geared up for the ski and snowboard season.  Check out the selection of Giro Helmets here.  And also be sure to check out Giro Goggles here.

They are in stock and ready to ship.

Known for the super lightweight bike helmets Giro snowboard helmets follow suit.  Super comfortable, lightweight and of course provide strong protection against falls.  Innovators in snowboard helmet technology, and the Giro G10 Snow Helmet and for you music junkies the Giro G10 Wireless Audio Snow Helmets are the way to go this year. 

The Giro G10 Wireless Audio Snow Helmet is one of our most popular freeski helmets and TuneUps Wireless is our most advanced audio system Developed in conjunction with Motorola, the system consists of a pair of modular speaker pods that clip into either the pads of your helmet or the included DJ handset. Intuitive, easy to reach controls are located on the spearker pods and are simple to use, even in gloved hands.

If aren't already skiing or snowboarding with a helmet on, you should definitely start. The Giro G10 and other Giro Helmets are really the best ski and snowboard helmets out there.

Need a Helmet? Yes you do!!

How Does a Helmet Work?

The helmet must stay on your head even when you hit more than once--usually a car first, and then the road. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong fastener. The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.

What Type do I Need?

Beware of gimmicks. You want a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points. Excessive vents mean less area contacting your head, which could concentrate force on one point. "Aero" helmets are not noticeably faster, and in a crash the "tail" could snag or knock the helmet aside. Skinny straps are less comfortable. Dark helmets are hard for motorists to see. Rigid visors can snag or shatter in a fall. Helmet standards do not address these problems--it's up to you!

Helmet Standards

Fit is not certified by any standard, so test that on your own head. Visors are not tested for shattering or snagging in a fall, so you are on your own there.

Comfort Requirements

Special Problems

How to Buy a Helmet

When you pick up a helmet, look first for a CPSC sticker inside and a smooth shell with a bright color outside. Put it on, adjust the pads and straps or the one-size-fits-all head ring, and then try hard to tear it off. Look for vents and sweat control. Helmets sell in bike shops or by mail order from $20 up, or in discount stores for less. A good shop helps with fitting, and fit is important for safety. A discount helmet can be equally protective if you take the time to fit it carefully. Helmets are cheap now, so don't wait for a sale. Many of us bought our helmets after a crash. You can be smarter than that.

Thanks to our friends at www.helmet.org for this valuable information.

Everyone knows that a BMX biker is going to have injuries.    A young BMXer of the future was overheard telling his mother, “But Mom!  Of course I have a bloody knee!  Now can I have my helmet back?  I need to practice that trick again.”  Even the best miss a trick from time to time and twist an ankle, bust up a knee, or injure a shoulder.

But just as everyone who is a BMX enthusiast, or knows a BMX enthusiast, can be sure of occasional injury, they can also be sure that no true BMX guy or gal is going to stay put long.  You can forget about traditional R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, and elevate) with these active personalities!

So how do you treat an injury if you refuse to relax on the sofa or in bed for a day or two?  You can provide constant cold therapy to knees, ankles, and shoulders with the Donjoy Dura Soft line of wraps or Aircast Cryo Cuff Cold Therapy System. 

Although cold therapy wraps are designed to speed up recovery after surgery, they are also great for moderate to severe sports injuries that need some serious cold therapy!

A paper published by the American Academy of Family Physicians details the danger of bicycling to athletes’ hands and thumbs. Authors Matthew J. Thompson, M.B. and Frederick P. Rivara, M.D. state that the pressure put on the hands and wrists while riding can lead to a number of compression-related injuries, including neuropathies, deep palmar branch injuries, and median nerve injuries.

The authors, who are also professors at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington, say that incidence of these injuries is greatly reduced when riders have correctly positioned equipment and handlebars, and also utilize protective gloves designed specifically for bicycling. Remember that handlebars should always be positioned at least 1 to 2 inches below the top of the bike seat, and should also be placed shoulder width apart on the bike.

While bicycling, warning signs of thumb and wrist injury include a tingling sensation in the fingers, or a weakness or inability to wiggle your digits. The most serious complications that occur as a result of bicycling wrist injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome and severe ulnar palsy. It’s great if you can take rest stops during your bike ride and rotate your hands and wrists occasionally to prevent injury. You can also alter the placement of your hands on the handlebars if you’re starting to notice some discomfort.

The AAFP study also adds that bicycling gloves can provide protection from superficial injuries, as well as be a great source of warmth and insulation in cold weather. A bit of extra padding can go a long way toward making your ride more enjoyable and pain-free.

Playing volleyball can be pretty tough on your joints and muscles, so it’s important to practice the right safety measures to avoid long-term injuries. Here are some common problems that volleyball players often have, and ways to avoid them.

1) Hand injuries

It’s pretty easy to sprain or fracture the bones in your hand and wrist when reaching out to block a spiked ball. Remember to avoid using your fingers to block if possible, because they are the most fragile bones in this area of the body.

2) Ankle sprain

Sometimes the ligaments in your ankle can become stretched or torn when the foot is bent the wrong way, or if you’re using the area too much. If you are noticing some soreness or stiffness in your ankle, it’s a good idea to find a sports brace to wear while you play.

3) Patella Tendinitis

Colloquially, this condition is known as Jumper’s Knee. It happens when the tendon connecting the kneecap to the bone becomes irritated and inflamed, and without the proper care it can actually result in rupture. If you notice any soreness in your knee while jumping or running, it is best to take a break and rest the area for a while to minimize damage.

4) Back Injuries

The back is very vulnerable to strain during the sport of volleyball, due to the intense amount of jumping, bending, and twisting involved. It actually accounts for up to 14% of all volleyball-related injuries. Make an effort to keep your back in line while jumping or spiking so that the area doesn’t have to suffer from repeated strain.

I think we can all agree that your face and head pretty vital, which is why there are so many precautions in place to protect these areas while playing extreme sports. But what kind of face guards are available, and what types of sports should you wear them for? Here’s a quick guide to protective facial masks to help you know what to look for.

• Softball and Baseball Helmet/Mask Combo

This combination helmet/facial mask provides complete protection to softball and baseball players. It is also made of a patented bullet-proof material!

• Softball Defensive Facemask

 The Emask Facemask is shatter-proof, and protects all areas of the face from blows and blunt trauma. It also comes in a variety of bright colors.

• Baseball and Softball Game Face

 The Game Face mask protects against both facial and dental injuries, while also providing plenty of ventilation to increase comfortability.

• Mueller Nose Guard

 This nose guard is designed specifically for use in basketball, wrestling, karate, and other sports where helmets are not required.

• ProForce MA Lightning Clear Face Shield

This versatile face shield can be used for nearly any sport, and is designed to maximize breathing and air flow.

• Saddle Barn Face Mask

 This face mask is intended for use in barns, stables, corrals, or any other place where horses may be. It is designed to protect the cheek bones, chin, forehead, and temple regions.

No matter what type of face guard you are looking for, always remember to choose one that offers plenty of protection while also being comfortable enough to play your best in.

To play your best tennis, building up a good strength foundation is essential for maximizing power and agility. By utilizing a combination of movement, flexibility, and cardiovascular training methods, you can create the tools you need to blast away your opponents on the court.

1) Warm-up

A good warm-up should include a variety of drills that get the blood pumping and the body moving. Your muscles perform at their best level when they are loose and at resting length or a little longer, so your warm-up should leave your muscles feeling relaxed and ready to play.

2) Weight Lifting

Regular weight lifting sessions will send the message to your muscles that it’s time to bulk up. By pushing your body with regular resistance training, you’re providing the framework for a quality strength building plan. Work on targeting your legs, arms, chest, back, shoulders, and abdominals during your sessions.

3) Movement Exercises

Movement exercises performed with the aid of a coach will help to improve agility, balance, and flexibility while on the court. These will help you to control your power and utilize it in the best way possible.

4) Core Stability

Tennis is all about transferring energy from your torso to your extremities, so that you can move quickly and hit the ball forcefully. Strong, solid abdominal and back muscles will help to stabilize your core and make it easier to harness this source of power.

When training, your goal is to add strength without bulk. Be sure to complement your training with a healthy eating plan that includes plenty of lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and liquids.

Comfort is key in the sport of running, and quality gear such as breathable fabrics, well-supported shoes, and Shock Doctor compression shorts can all help to shave precious minutes off your PR (personal record). Obviously, running is an intense, high-impact sport, and studies have shown that the more comfortable an athlete is, the more likely they are to train harder, run longer, and move faster.

When purchasing clothes to run in, be sure to choose fabrics that will wick away sweat from your body. This will allow your sweat to evaporate off your skin, rather than soaking your shirt and weighing you down. Also try to choose light-colored shorts and tops that will reflect sunlight away from your body to keep your body temperature down.

All runners know the importance of buying good running shoes, but it’s a good idea to visit a specialty running store where you can get personally fitted for a shoe, rather than attempting to buy a pair on your own. Specialty stores are often staffed by experienced runners that know what to look for, and can help you find the best shoe for your gait and running style.

And last, but certainly not least, you definitely want to nip any chafing problems in the bud before they have the chance to cause any serious damage. Shock Doctor compression shorts are a great way to minimize discomfort in the groin area and allow your run to flow smoothly, helping you to get one second closer to that marathon PR.

Let’s face it, rodeo is one of the most hardcore sports out there. It has a reputation for incurring bone-crushing injuries on its participants and riders, and also giving long-term riders bad back and neck problems. The most common injuries in rodeos occur to the knee and shoulder, but medical professionals have found that serious injuries are much less common when riders suit up in the appropriate protective gear prior to riding.

Riders are encouraged to wear protective head gear, in addition to a Donjoy BOA Back Brace if the back is already under significant stress. Protective vests have also been proven to prevent punctures to the rib and chest. While many riders have been open to wearing this type of gear underneath their clothing, the majority are still unwilling to trade in their “macho” image for better head protection in the form of a quality helmet.

The medical world has often expressed public concern for the safety of riders in rodeos. In the popular sports journal Current Sports Medicine Reports, Dr. Daniel J. Downey of Pioneer Medical Specialists in Dillon, Montana says that "Our hope is that the sport of rodeo will be made safer for the athlete through greater physician interaction with the rodeo organizations and athletes in the future." As scientists work to develop better protective gear for riders, the sport of rodeo can envision a future that is hopefully relatively injury-free.

Giro Pneumo helmets definitely get our vote for some of the best safety gear available to road cyclists this year. The new Giro Pneumo Road Helmet’s patented ROC LOC fit system includes a soft rubber fit belt to ensure that it will remain stabilized on your head throughout the course of your ride. We also love the contoured shape of the Pneumo, as it allows for the least amount of wind resistance possible, while looking pretty darn cool in the process.

Last year, a man in Seattle accidentally proved the effectiveness of Giro helmets by rising from a head-on delivery truck collision unscathed. Cyclist Ryan Lipscomb was quoted as saying “I didn’t see it coming, but I sure felt it roll over my head. It feels really strange to have a truck run over your head.” The crash flattened Lipscomb’s Giro helmet, but did no damage to his face or skull. Lipscomb was released from the hospital within three hours of the crash.

 If that story doesn’t prove the durability of Giro helmets, we don’t know what will. The excellent ventilation system and adjustable visor make this helmet the most comfortable option possible for the huge amount of protection that you get, and the three different sizes offered make the helmet available to riders of all sizes.