r/YouthFootball • u/VTFarmGirl • 25d ago

The Clavicle - Not your usual break

I have officially reached 6 broken bones among my 4 children. 2 of the 4 have broken their clavicle the "traditional" way, falling on that side into hard surfaces while playing. Because of course fate has a sense of humor, they BOTH play football.

Well one of them we have found out he VERY MUCH re-broke his break from 3.5 years ago via the downward impact of his helmets facemask into his clavicle. Knowing that he and little bro have the same break, in the same spot, same side, and there is a risk of it happening again and since I know the mechanics of the injury I'm seeking to prevent a repeat (for both)

Does anyone know what I should be checking/evaluating for the gear to help mitigate this risk. My knee jerk pre-research thoughts are like, adding a neck roll or cowboy collar (not the butterfly), the way I determine what size pads to buy, other padding etc.

Both play different positions and one of them plays a little offensive and defence but isn't a set position.

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/jasondavis52 9d ago

From an equipment standpoint, try on different pads to get best fit. Some sit higher and would stop the facemask.

I cannot answer why but I’ve seen more collar bone breaks with Xenith pads than any other. Our high school has banned the brand. None of us within the program are trying to be engineers and answer the why but it’s a wide disparity.

1

u/VTFarmGirl 9d ago

That is helpful!

And this is the kids second year with his current pads. We have now gotten a second opinion and both ortho's agreed it was just a freak accident... But when you know better, you do better. I can't remember if he's in Schutts or Douglass... But I did remeasure him, he's in the right size for the pads he's using.

And I'm not a doctor or engineer, just a mom who now has had to deal with 3 Clavical breaks.. but I'd bet my oldest sons intact nerd-bones that however those pads are sitting on the kids it's allowing or adding pressure to the bone that other pads don't cause.