The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of forearm guards and foot protectors which are the main impact targets for kicks in Taekwondo. We used guards for the forearm (70 gr, 16 mm thick) and protectors for the foot dorsum (50 gr, 6 mm thick) which were produced from foam material (Daedo®). One load cell (Cas Coop®) was fixed on the tip of a swing which performed a pendulum movement. A prosthetic foot was mounted in front of the load cell to mimic the kicking foot. The forearm prosthesis was produced from hard foam which had natural anthropometric characteristics. Special designed sensor systems (Tekscan®, F-Socket system) were mounted on the forearm prosthesis and the prosthetic foot. Using this set up impact on the bare sensors and then with both guards mounted on the sensors was measured. Recorded impact parameters were maximal force, mean force, impulse, maximal pressure, mean pressure and integral pressure. While the total impact force on the load cells without protection was 127.5 ±1.18 kg, the forearm guard and foot protection decreased the total impact force to 107.25 ± .52 kg. Also the difference between foot and forearm maximal impact force increased with protection. For force and pressure parameters the foot protection had no absorbing effect in contrast to the forearm guard. These results show that forearm guards used in Taekwondo are more effective than foot protection.
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