“…Conversely, skaters wearing wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads could reduce the number of their wrist injuries by 87%, their elbow injuries by 82% and their knee injuries by 32% (Schieber et al, 1996). Although the use of protective equipment is associated with a decreased likelihood of hospitalisation (Adams et al, 1996), numerous studies have shown that few skaters (1.4-7%) self-report that they wear full protective equipment (Adams et al, 1996;Schieber et al, 1996;Williams-Avery and MacKinnon, 1996). Of particular note, safety gear use is alarmingly low in adult recreational in-line skaters and safe skating education programs that promote the wearing of safety gear should consider targeting this newly recognized at-risk skating population (Seldes et al, 1999).…”