Hi folks,
The discussion about chest protectors, etc. has been interesting....
Here's some more information.
We require that all fencers wear an underarm protector (UAP). Sometimes
this item of equipment is called a plastron. To make sure that we are
all discussing the same piece of equipment, I will describe it briefly.
The UAP is double-layered item of nylon, cotton, or other durable
material that covers the upper blade arm (beginning just above the
elbow) and the blade side of the torso, extending approximately halfway
around the torso. It is constructed in such a way that there are no
seams on the flank, in the armpit, or on the underside of the arm. The
intent of the UAP is to provide a second double-layered set of
protection to the most vulnerable areas of the body in the event a
broken blade penetrates the fencing jacket. As a side benefit, it also
takes a lot of the "sting" out of hard hits (which also means that
folks have to re-learn the feel of touches on that side in order to be
able to properly acknowledge them in friendly assaults -- not a big
deal, though). I consider it as important as my mask and will not fence
without one -- it's cheap insurance against a catastrophic injury.
We also require all female fencers, regardless of age, to wear a breast
plate or cups (metal or plastic). (Most of our female fencers prefer
the plates, by the way.) The purpose of this requirement is two-fold.
1) Breast tissue that is traumatized by localized force, such as a foil
tip, is subject to a condition called "fatty tissue necrosis". Rather
than a bruise, tissue sometimes ends up more seriously damaged in this
painful condition, which can be disfiguring and may require minor
surgery to correct. Obviously, as many female fencers can attest, FTN
does not occur with every hit, but the risk is there, and it can be
completely eliminated by simply wearing breast protection.
2) We have the same requirements for pre-pubescent girls, but for
different reasons. There is evidence (from studies of female gymnasts)
that repeated trauma to pre-pubescent breast tissue can result in
uneven breast development -- especially if the trauma is asymmetric, as
it is in fencing. Not a condition that is physically painful, but
certainly one that is permanent and preventable.
The above information about breast protection is drawn from an article
in American Fencing Magazine about a year ago. It was a regular column
by Peter Harmer, PhD, an athletic trainer and professor of exercise
science at Willamette University (coincidentally also here in Salem).
In conversation with my wife, who is a pediatrician (and also one of
our board members), she said while the risk of either of these
conditions is low, the means of prevention are so simple that it would
be almost negligent to not require it.
Inevitably, some new female fencers will complain that males should be
required to wear athletic cups. Again, my wife was able to shed some
light. According to her, the risk of actual injury to the testes from
fencing (as opposed to discomfort) is virtually non-existent. It's a
bit like trying to pin down a greased marble with a chopstick. The real
risk of injury to the testes is from high-impact trauma that occurs in
contact sports or ball-based sports (no pun intended -- really!) like
baseball, cricket, or racquetball. Besides, she says, the target area
in the nether regions is so small.... <grin>
I have not read any accounts of sternum fractures occurring in fencing.
If there are such accounts, I would be interested in seeing them. If
there were a serious risk of sternum fracture, I would also expect to
see cases of blunt force trauma-induced cardiac arrest, as we see in
lacrosse.
The USFA/FIE issued an emergency rules change last year that specified
that chest plates, when worn, must be worn UNDER the jacket (plates or
cups are required for women, optional for men). The problem was that
some fencers discovered that it was much harder for the hit to register
when the plate was worn between the jacket and the lame.
-Michael Heggen, moniteur d'armes
Salem Classical Fencing
Salem, Oregon
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