North Carolina high school football injury study: equipment and prevention.

Historically, contemporary studies of athletic injury protection have done little more than provide some descriptions of existing injury patterns. Unfortunately, these descriptions fall short of pointing out the most efficient ways of preventing athletic injuries. An early investigation by Lloyd, Deaver and Eastwood3 suggests that it is not enough to know what the hazards are in athletics; it is also important to know how to eliminate these hazards. Subsequent studies tell what parts of the body are injured, how these injuries occur, the type of injury and the activity engaged in; but most do not mention the protective equipment worn by the player. Athletic program administrators believe that the protective equipment being worn today is protecting their student-athletes from injury but they have no substantial