Ear and Head Protection for Wrestling
How Can Wrestling Affect Your Ears
The constant bashing and beating of a Wrestlers Ear can cause longterm disfigurement of the ear.
Cauliflower Ear
A common sight in Wrestling is what is known as Cauliflower ear, this is a deformity of the outer ear that has developed over time. It will appear swollen and inflammed. When the cartilage of the ear is injured by trauma to the ear, the blood supply from the skin is disrupted often causing a hematoma, a pocket of blood, as the injury heals the skin folds in on itself becoming more pale and giving a cauliflower appearance hence then name.
Ear Drum Rupture
The force of a hard knock to the ear has the potentail to cause a rupture to the ear drum, resulting in pain, pontential infection, tinnitus and hearing loss.
Using headgear can protect the ears of a wrestler. Constant bashing and beating onto a wrestlers ears can cause blood vessels in the outer ear to burst and cause cauliflower ear. Headgear is required to be worn in a United States high school and college wrestling. In Canada and international wrestling matches headgear is recommended but not compulsory. Wrestling isn't as big in the UK but is still done.
When choosing headgear or earguards it is important to consider certain factors. How lightweight is your headgear, if it is not lightweight it will be uncomfortable to wear and will also put pressure on your neck and shoulders. It needs to fit securely and feel comfortable, what you don't want is for the headgear to slip off during a wrestling match. Earguards with good ventilation and audibility will help with awareness as well as keeping your protective equipment free of moisture, condensation and perspiration. It is important that the earguards are strong, robust and durable and if possible the more streamlined the better, if your ear guards are too much of an extra feature they have the potential to provide an advantage to your opponent by grabbing them to get you into a head lock.
Tips for Wrestlers To Protect Their Ears
- The best way to protect your ears is by using head gear also called ear guards or ear protectors in wrestling
- Make sure the ear guard you use is correctly fitted, if too loose or too tight this could also cause injury to your ears.
- Seek a Doctors opinion if a Cauliflower ear has developed no matter how superficial it looks
- Trauma to the ear via sport is becoming more and more common be aware of the risks and prevention methods and help share prevention methods with other players