Elbow Protection 101
Mountain Biking is a popular pastime for kids and adults alike. Although it is an exhilarating experience, one should consider the inherent risks before engaging in the activity. Protective gear is an essential part of most sports, but even more so for Mountain Biking, especially when it comes to your elbows. Even a minor fall can result in serious injury, so it's important to prioritise safety while enjoying your favourite sport. While elbow injuries are common, they are preventable with adequate protective gear. Mountain Bike elbow pads are a must-have accessory, as they can significantly reduce the risk of elbow injuries. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
Do You Really Need Elbow Guards When Riding Your Mountain Bike?
Your elbows are undoubtedly quite vulnerable when you ride your Mountain Bike. Even minor elbow injuries can lead to long-term complications, including osteoarthritis.
The elbow is one of the weakest joints in your body and is commonly affected by sports and physical activity. An elbow injury is no laughing matter. In fact, an elbow problem can severely impact your ability to play sports, work on the computer, or participate in other physical activities. Fortunately, wearing Mountain Bike elbow pads is an effective and easy way to protect your elbows from injuries. Mountain Bikes and ATVs can generate tremendous speed. Consequently, you could sustain serious injury if you don't wear a pair of quality elbow guards. Wearing the proper elbow guards will protect your elbows from impact, absorb shock, and reduce wear and tear on your joints. Therefore, if you spend time on the dirt, consider picking up a pair of Mountain Bike elbow guards as soon as possible.
How Leatt Mountain Bike Elbow Guards Protect You
Mountain Bike elbow pads are protective gear worn on the elbows to help prevent injuries. An elbow injury can be caused by two things: an impact to the elbow, such as a fall or a collision, or a repetitive motion at the elbow during the normal course of your ride. It is important to understand that different parts of the elbow require unique design considerations and characteristics from elbow guards.
The “Olecranon”
The elbow's bony tip, the olecranon (oh-LEK-rah-nun), is situated directly beneath the skin of the elbow, with little protection from muscles or other soft tissue. If you experience a direct blow to the elbow or fall onto the tip of the elbow, it can break easily. A fracture can be very painful and make elbow motion difficult or impossible.
Moreover, in most olecranon fractures, the pieces of bone move out of place when the injury occurs, and surgery is required to restore the elbow's normal anatomy and joint motion. For these reasons, the olecranon needs adequate impact protection. Our Mountain Bike elbow pads offer CE-certified impact protection to help safeguard your elbows from severe fractures and their long-term impact on your quality of life.
The Forearm
Similarly, your forearms are also very exposed when riding. Forearm injuries can occur from a direct blow, such as a fall on the forearm. But they can also arise from indirect trauma, often resulting from landing on an outstretched arm. Fortunately, our head-to-toe protection philosophy also caters to forearms. Thus, you can choose from our range of Mountain Bike elbow pads to achieve the desired level of forearm protection. Be sure to pay specific attention to the Leatt forearm protection factor when making your choice.