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

Non-yielding Materials 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

Casting Materials 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