Ensuring the safety of all athletes who step foot on your athletic facilities is crucial. When an athlete hits a wall or other surface, either their body or the wall absorbs the majority of the impact. If the wall padding is not sufficient, the player may sustain a more serious injury because they take the majority of the impact, instead of the wall pad.

Here, our experts at Fieldwallpads.com will discuss how to know if your equipment is keeping your athletes safe by delving into an important measurement used to answer that question.

WHAT IS G-MAX TESTING?

G-max testing is used to determine the shock-reducing performance of different sports materials, such as wall pads and turf. The equation for determining the g-max rating is simple:

The maximum acceleration of an impact

An established normal/accepted rate of acceleration

If the g-max rating is high, the shock-attenuation of the wall pad or turf is poor, leading to more injuries. If your athlete collides with a wall or floor at a fast pace, you want that padding to absorb the brunt of the force, reducing the risks your athletes face.

HOW DO I KNOW WHERE MY ATHLETIC PADDING FALLS?

 High, of course, is relative; generally, testing compares results to standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). From there, you have to decide whether your wall pads and turf performs at an acceptable rate, or if they need to be replaced.

When you choose Fieldwallpads.com, you get a company that makes every product so it goes above and beyond these standards. We want your athletes to be protected, and we want your wall padding to last for years to come.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERIODIC TESTING

Most wall pads, including ours, are designed to last anywhere from seven to 15 years. We recommend that you test your wall pads once every year to ensure the g-max rating stays low and your athletes stay safe. How well your wall pads hold up depends on a variety of factors, including:

●        Environmental conditions

●        Pad construction

●        Pad materials

●        How well/how often they’re maintained

●        Level of and frequency of impact

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHOCK ABSORBENCY OF GYM WALL PADS IS POOR?

Injury, of course—we’ve covered that. But the particular type of injury your athletes face if their stadium padding is poor is dire and deserves its own section. Plus, it isn’t just the athletes that could suffer; your organization as a whole has a lot to lose if injury becomes commonplace.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

When a player collides with a wall, the most common injury is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While any injury can be severe, TBIs are typically the ones with lasting repercussions—and football players, as we covered in our gym wall padding blog, are at particularly high risk. The most common TBI is a concussion, and though most concussions are mild, if you get multiple, you are at risk for long-term brain damage.

Mental Health Consequences

But it’s not just brain damage that can plague poorly protected athletes; many can suffer blows to their mental health, too. In fact, according to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture, a book listed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “surveys of retired professional athletes provide some evidence that a history of multiple concussions increases risk for depression.”

Immediate Team Problems

From an ethical standpoint, you of course want to protect your athletes from both the long-term physical and mental health effects of multiple concussions, but don’t forget the short-term effects, too. While many concussions can resolve within weeks, some athletes may find themselves with Post-Concussion Syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic—so quick recovery isn’t always guaranteed, which can cut that athlete from the team for a significant amount of time.

In conclusion: to prevent all the physical and mental consequences from any traumatic brain injury, both short and long-term, you better make sure your athletes have the support they need with sturdy sports venue padding with good g-max ratings.

Consequences For Your Organization

An organization has a responsibility to protect the welfare of its athletes with quality indoor and outdoor wall padding. When your organization fails to uphold that responsibility, your reputation will tank; who can blame athletes for not wanting to play for you if their safety isn’t a priority? You’ll also lose the support and morale of your current players if too many of their teammates suffer preventable injuries.

When you prioritize your gym pads—both in terms of their g-max rating and beyond—on the other hand, you’ll maintain your public image and team spirit.

CONTACT FIELDWALLPADS.COM TODAY FOR WALL PADS THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND

If you are looking for state-of-the-art padding for your athletic facilities, contact Fieldwallpads.com today. Our experts have installed custom padding for a variety of facilities across the country, and we’d be happy to add yours to the list!

 To learn more about our products and services and how they can protect your athletes and fans, give us a call now at 1-800-257-6405.