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LauraWalker

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Posts: 53

why - 21:49 13 Jun 06 Whats the point of wrist guards? You all say they are important so I believe the experts- but why. I cannot imagine falling on them.

Laura Walker (not skated much since 13 years old-now 23). Grade 8 figure skating, played ice hockey and just started again. Competent but rusty roller skater

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dogsbody

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Posts: 5849

Re:why - 22:22 13 Jun 06 Do you skate outside much?

They are very important if you fall on tarmac at speed! Not only do they prevent you from snapping your wrists back and breaking them (we have had two broken wrists already) but also do a great job of preventing gravel rash! Embedding gravatar.com icons in the Goodwood Roller Marathon site to give each racer a unique avatar that they can change if they want. - Twitter Status

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Mr blue sky

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Posts: 500

Re:why - 22:27 13 Jun 06 oh that reminds me got to get some wrist and knee guards before goodwood/eastborn

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LauraWalker

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Posts: 53

Re:why - 22:42 13 Jun 06 Yes but more to play hockey I suppose. I always did with my fingerless gloves to protect me. suppose wrist guards make a lot of sense really.

Laura Walker (not skated much since 13 years old-now 23). Grade 8 figure skating, played ice hockey and just started again. Competent but rusty roller skater

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TIM

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Posts: 343

Re:why - 23:08 13 Jun 06 Wrist guards good protection as the chances are they will be the first or second thing to come into contact with the ground if you fall. A lot are even designed with a hard plastic protector which will enable you to skid on them allowing a slightly slower rate of deceleration, thereby reducing the shock of impact.

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dogsbody

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Posts: 5849

Re:why - 23:12 13 Jun 06 I am so used to wrist guards now that when I fall I actively slam my hands down to take the brunt of the fall and let my arms slow down the decent.... admitedly I didn't realiase this until I forgot to wear them one day and fell, luckily it was only indoors at slow speed (hence why I hadn't realised) but I was amazed at how my brain had taught me to fall differantly without me knowing.... or doe that just mean I fall over a lot!

Embedding gravatar.com icons in the Goodwood Roller Marathon site to give each racer a unique avatar that they can change if they want. - Twitter Status

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Chez

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Posts: 467

Re:why - 06:04 14 Jun 06 I know what you mean about the wrist guard thing. I used to do artistic skating and obviously you never see artistic skaters with loads of protective gear on...also I can imagine they get in the way a bit if you play hockey. I have tended not to wear them but my wrist is the only thing I have ever injured in skating so I guess it makes sense to wear them (broke wrist last Sept and then fell on same one again and tore ligaments this Easter!!)
Bagpuss was kind enough to send me a pair of wristguards recently so I have no excuse any more!

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lemming

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Posts: 3044

Re:why - 07:18 14 Jun 06 It's the one protective item I always wear (not tonight though, I've left them at home). Knee and elbow pads are optional extras, but I've only ever grazed those (badly), whereas you are likely to break your wrist in a fall, and that's a long time to heal...

Thankfully, the wosrt I've done to my hand/wrist is to bruise the palm of my hand in a fall (no wristguards).

With hockey, you're right, the plastic bit makes it difficult to grip the stick properly. ! Skate Monkey !

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MCS

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Posts: 1026

Re:why - 08:32 14 Jun 06 Well I broke my wrist while wearing wrist guards, but the wrist bent in the opposite direction from where the plastic support was (on the palm side only).

Six months on, I have a joint which is 10 degrees out of line, and restricted movement of the wrist and fingers. It will never be normal again, but may improve over years rather than months. I have to attend Occupational Therapy twice a week, so do speak with experience of the subject.

I now wear wrist guards with support both sides of the wrist, and with the support going further up the arm.

It is however suggested by my Occupational Therapist, that even with all this support, it may only move the break point on the limb further along the limb.

The one thing that is certain, if you Google around, is that the most common skating injury is a fracture of the arm or wrist, and the second most common is head injury, so beware.

I would recommend wearing the protective gear, especially outdoors, and even if wearing the gear only moves the break point, then you won't be any worse off. But it could help, and a break in the bone away from the joint is better than a break on the joint. It's easier to fix.

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Dan Solo

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Posts: 246

Re:why - 09:54 14 Jun 06 All the pads you wear are designed to work together and assume you are skating under control i.e if you are skating in the approved beginner position (knees bent arms forward) you should only fall forwards.

Your knees hit first (hence kneepads) closely followed by your hands. Some wristguards are designed to support your wrist but mainly they are to stop you losing skin to tarmac and let your hands slide forward. If this happens the next thing to hit the ground will be your elbows (hence elbow pads) and you should be safe at that point.

This is no use if you fall over backwards where the 2 bits that generally hit the ground are your bum (generally quite well padded apart from the coccyx which hurts like a bi-atch if you break it!) and the back of your head - hence the helmet.

At the end of the day, accidents always happen no matter how experienced you are and you can either go fully padded up or only wear some protection and take the risk. Jagshemash!

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