Wrestler's headgear has straps that go over the top of the head and under the chin to secure plastic cups over each ear. The cups have small holes to allow the wrestler to hear. Proper sizing is important to ensure safety, so test different models to find one that is comfortably tight without being too constricting.
Cauliflower Ear
Ears are skin-covered cartilage. When a hard blow causes a blood clot to develop under the skin or when repeated friction causes the skin to strip away from the cartilage, the result is auricular hematoma, commonly called cauliflower ear. This causes the ear to look deformed. While it is possible to treat cauliflower ear if it's caught early enough, the best way to avoid this problem is to wear protective headgear during contact sports.
Expert Insight
A 1989 study by researchers at Ohio State University, Columbus, published in "Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery," surveyed Division I collegiate wrestlers. Out of those surveyed, 52 percent developed auricular hematoma while they weren't wearing headgear, and 26 percent developed auricular hematoma while they were wearing headgear. The study concluded that headgear provides partial protection from auricular injury, yet many wrestlers choose to forgo the use of headgear.
Regulations
Wrestlers, boxers, and any other athletes who encounter frequent blows to their ears should wear headgear. If you belong to an organized sports league, contact the league staff or check the league manual to determine what kinds of headgear are permissible.
Considerations
You might be tempted to remove headgear during practices, but injuries are just as likely to happen then as in a proper match. Always wear your headgear while you spar to decrease the chance of ear injuries. If the straps come loose, stop wrestling and secure them. Adults should monitor developing youths to ensure they don't outgrow their headgear.
Member Comments