A genital protector strong enough to withstand the impact of a high-speed projectile, without compromising comfort or affordability is being designed and tested thanks to recent Healthcare Innovation Summer Scholarship (HISS) funding supported by the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME), Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre and the Monash Young MedTech Innovators (MYMI).
The project, named Project Impact, is a collaboration between Monash University and Eastern Health that will seek to minimise groin injury in athletes and offer superior protection to existing available options.
Research leads, Billie Bennett, Mabel Li and Wenjing Sun from Monash University said this initiative looks to provides athletes with the safety they deserve.
“More than two million athletes in Australia currently wear genital protectors during sport. In a recent survey we conducted with local cricket and baseball players, 31 per cent of respondents sustained an injury to their groin,” said Ms Bennett, Li and Sun.
“Currently there are no regulations or standards when it comes to genital protectors in sport adding to a player’s false sense of security.”
“Through our work we hope to undertake testing on a variety of materials able to withstand the high impact of a projectile, in the quest to provide sportspeople with a better option for protection. When someone is hit in the groin, we want to ensure an injury does not occur.”
“This project will also be supported by an educational campaign highlighting the importance and benefits of genital protection during high impact sport,” said Ms Bennett, Li and Sun.
The project is currently undertaking testing of a variety of materials include polypropylene, ABS plastic and polyurethane when met with a high impact cricket ball.
Next steps will include physical testing, further research of the shape and material of the proposed genital protector and building a prototype.
This project was made possible thanks to the HealthCare Innovation Summer Scholarships (HISS) Program, supported by the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME), Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre and the Monash Young MedTech Innovators (MYMI).
