When children become involved in athletic activity parents commonly are concerned with their safety. Pads, helmets and proper footwear are often used, and required, in organized leagues regardless of age. Protective athletic supporters and cups are an often over-looked, but important, piece of equipment for young boys involved in competitive sports.
When Protection Is Necessary
The introduction of the athletic supporter and protective cup for boys can be uncomfortable for both the parents and children. According to Doctor Anthony Atala of the American Urological Association Foundation, however, boys should wear this type of equipment as soon as he becomes involved in any sport in which testicular injury becomes a risk.
Athletic Supporters
Athletic supporters, commonly referred to as "jockstraps," keep the testicles close to the body and reduce the risk of testicle torsion and other injuries. This form of protection can be difficult to find in a size that will fit children, however, and can be simulated with tight-fitting briefs. Compression shorts are another alternative for older children that tend to be more comfortable while providing the same kind of protection.
Athletic Cups
Athletic cups are hard plastic disks that protect the testicles from blunt trauma, which is a necessary precaution in sports like soccer and football. Cups can be purchased in children's sizes and are sometimes built into compression shorts. Size should be carefully considered when selecting a cup because protection that is too large or too small may not properly guard against injury.
Possible Injuries
Two forms of potentially dangerous testicular injury with long-lasting effects are possible if proper protection is not used. Blunt trauma to the testicles can cause the testicles to rupture and bleed into the scrotum. Testicular torsion results when the spermatic chord, which suspends the testicles in the scrotum, becomes twisted to restricts blood flow. Torsion can occur after blunt trauma, strenuous exercise or even spontaneously. Testicular torsion is generally accompanied by intense pain and swelling on one side of the scrotum.
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