Product Review Thigh Guardz--“Dr J” Paul G. Johnson M.D.

Summary:

  Thigh Guardz are the best thigh protection ever made for baseball and softball catchers. In the 150 years of baseball no one has ever invented thigh protection for catchers until now. Thigh Guardz are a revolution in design and catcher safety.  

Product Design and Function:

 The protective pads are a robust ½ inch to ¾ inch foam. These pads cover an area from the outside of the thigh to the inner thigh and from the knee cap to the pubis bone. For a player who begins their play by squatting and spreading their legs this is unrivaled protection. A catcher wearing Thigh Guardz and assuming their ready position has full frontal facing protection.  The protective pads are attached to the thigh by a strapping structure which holds the pad firmly in place yet allows for ease of installation and removal.  

Medical Issues—Bruises and Spider Veins:

  The medical issues related to thigh injuries are well known. Blood vessels under the skin can be easily damaged. Over time the simple pressure of eye glasses on one's nose can cause small spider veins.  Hematomas or bruises to the thigh can range from superficial bruising and minor soreness, to the feared dead-leg where ones leg is completely unusable. Repeated ball strikes to the unprotected thigh causing venal damage can increase the risk of developing spider veins later in life. Women are more likely to develop these but men can develop them too.  Wearing Thigh Guardz protects against venal damage and repetitive trauma to the thigh muscle veins. 

Medical Issues—Myositis Ossificans:

  Beyond the immediate pain and shock of taking a ball strike to one's thigh are the very serious health consequences of myositis ossificans. These are bony growths that form inside the muscle after an injury. It is estimated that from 9-17% of muscle bruises develop myositis ossificans. It is most common in the thigh on the diaphysis of the long bone, the exact location covered by Thigh Guardz.  

Myositis ossificans are usually the result of deep muscle trauma or repetitive trauma and can lead to serious loss of mobility, pain and in severe cases surgery.  Wearing Thigh Guardz helps protect the thigh muscle from the development of myositis ossificans.  

Recommendation:

  As a Doctor, the best advice I can give to my patients is to avoid harmful things. Wearing Thigh Guardz avoids the harmful health impact of repeated ball strikes to the thighs and I recommend every catcher to wear them. No more dead-leg!