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Why Do I Need to Wear an Athletic Supporter?

Millions of people chuckle when they watch video of someone taking a shot to the groin. It is a common occurrence. A baseball might take a bad hop. A soccer player might whiff on a kick and slam his foot into an opponent. Truly, though, injuries to the pelvic region are no laughing matter, which is why it pays for athletes to wear athletic supporters and cups to protect themselves against serious injury.

  1. History

    • According to the International Jock website, Charles Bennett of Sharp and Smith, a Chicago sportswear company, invented the jockstrap in 1874 as a device to assist male cyclists looking for increased support for their genitalia. In 1902, Sears and Roebuck included the jockstrap in its catalog under the name "athletic supporter."

    Benefits

    • In addition to providing support, the athletic supporter provides protection against genital injury when it is worn with a plastic cup, which can be inserted into a pocket often sewn into the front of the supporter.

    Types

    • The athletic supporter consists of an elastic waistband attached to two leg straps, which pass between the legs, wrap around the lower buttocks and then attach at the sides to the waistband. Some feature a 1-inch waistband, and others feature a 3-inch waistband. This style of athletic supporter is still in use. Some male athletes now wear compression shorts instead, which use a tight fit to support the genitalia.

    Theories/Speculation

    • In an article published July 22, 2005, Salon.com writer Daniel Akst reports that many kids do not wear jockstraps. Akst also learned from Joe Skiba, an equipment manager for the NFL's New York Giants, that many pro football players forego the use of cups and athletic supporters, because they "feel that it hinders their speed and performance."

    Prevention/Solution

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, genital injuries can cause extreme pain, severe bleeding and damage to the bladder and urethra. KidsHealth.org reported that testicular torsion, another genital injury, can lead to the loss of a testicle or reduced sperm production if left untreated. The website stresses to kids the importance of wearing athletic supporters and cups when participating in strenuous activity.

    Misconceptions

    • Akst says athletes are wrong to think an athletic supporter alone protects against injuries. Doctors call the notion "an old athlete's tale." Dr. William O. Roberts, a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, says athletic supporters merely keep the "genitalia from flopping around"; the cup provides the real protection.

    Potential

    • A common refrain from athletes who do not wear athletic supporters or cups is that they are uncomfortable and restrictive. This opinion leaves the door open for a company to produce a superior product in the future.

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