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Athletes often wonder whether or not piercing jewelry is appropriate for them. The general consensus is that people who engage in sports can indeed wear jewelry. But there are certain caveats to that assertion. Here, we will first highlight the unique risks that are associated with wearing jewelry for athletes.
Then, we will take a look at the type of jewelry that are safe for sportspeople, and those that athletes should avoid. We will go a step further, to offer some practical tips for athletes who opt to get piercings.
Risks of Wearing Piercing Jewelry During Sports
Athletes who are considering going for jewelry need to have proper awareness of the unique risks that are associated with wearing jewelry while taking part in sports. That can then help them in making informed decisions.
Firstly (and perhaps most worrisome) is the risk of injury. Sometimes, the jewelry may snag – like if it gets stuck on the outfits worn during sporting activities. There are also instances where the jewelry may tear – like when someone with earrings ends up having them torn during some sort of sporting duel. Then, there are those cases where the spots where the piercing jewelry is affected by impact injuries. That is particularly worrisome for folks in contact sports like martial arts and football.
Second is the risk of infection. This is due to the great deal of sweating that comes with engagement in athletic activities. The sweat can in due course attract bacteria (or other types of pathogens) – the end result being a potentially nasty infection.
We also have the fact that there are some sports in which you find restrictions on visible jewelry. Thus, opting to get piercing jewelry may lead to an athlete being barred from taking part in certain sports. F1 racing, rugby, and football are some of the sports with such restrictions.
Types of Jewelry Safe for Athletes
Some types of jewelry are generally considered to be safe for athletes. They are safe on account of the materials they are made out of, their designs, and their sizes:
- Materials: Pieces of jewelry made with certain materials are safe for athletes. Those include jewelry made using hypoallergenic metals. One such metal is titanium. Another is stainless or surgical steel. Materials that are sturdy/durable and hence capable of withstanding the rigors of sporting activity are desirable. On another note, the materials from which the jewelry pieces are made should be those that are resistant to sweat.
- Design: Only jewelry that has a flat and smooth profile – as in the case of items like flatback earrings and labret studs – is safe for people who engage in sports. Otherwise, the risk of snagging would be too high for the jewelry to be worthwhile.
- Size: Appropriate jewelry for athletes is that which is smaller and fits snugly. Conversely, jewelry pieces that are too big or that don’t fit snugly come with the risk of being caught – the end result being potentially nasty tears and other injuries of that type.
Jewelry to Avoid During Sports Activities
People who are involved in sporting activities should completely keep off certain types of jewelry.
Dangling or particularly large pieces of jewelry are a definite no-no for athletes. The problem with such jewelry items is in the fact that they may get caught on clothing. Or, worse still, they may get caught on sporting equipment. Either way, the end result would be painful snagging and possibly even tearing of the jewelry, alongside the body parts it is attached to… So, it can be quite gruesome.
Jewelry that is made using materials that are either porous or soft is also completely inappropriate for athletes. Those made from soft materials are prone to breaking during the impact that comes with sporting activities. And those made from porous materials may harbor bacteria that can soon or later cause infections.
Practical Tips for Athletes With Piercings
There are some courses of action that can be very helpful for athletes who opt for piercing jewelry.
One step that can help athletes with piercings a great deal is wearing retainers or covers during the actual sporting sessions. The objective here would be to protect the piercings, which can go a very long way in preventing things like tears, direct impact injuries, and so on.
Further, it is important for the athletes to observe proper cleaning and aftercare practices, especially after the sporting sessions, to ensure that infections don’t take root.
It is also essential to know when to remove the jewelry. For instance, if one is about to engage in high-contact sports, the best thing to do may be to remove some pieces of jewelry – or otherwise risk having them caught or damaged. Having opted to remove such pieces of jewelry, one can opt for temporary replacements to at least serve as placeholders while they take part in the sporting activity.
Initial piercings (or fresh ones) that are particularly prone to injury are also not ideal for athletes. The vigor – turning, twisting, and so on – that comes with sporting activities may inhibit proper healing. At worst, it can lead to migration or rejection of the jewelry. So, if an athlete wishes to get a new piercing, it is best to only do so early on during the offseason: then suspend any practice/active sporting sessions for a while thereafter. This way, by the time the new sporting season starts, the initial healing would be complete, thus lowering the risk profile.
The Bottom Line
Clearly then, wearing piercing jewelry isn’t completely incompatible with taking part in sporting activities. You can still enhance your looks and make fashion statements through piercing jewelry while engaging in sports. The most important thing is to have awareness of the types of jewelry that are safe for athletes – as per the criteria we have provided here – and ensure that you only wear those.
Also, beware of the types of jewelry to avoid during sports, and ensure that you keep off those. If you also act on the practical tips for athletes with piercings given here, it should be possible for you to wear piercing jewelry as an athlete with absolutely no major issues.
