SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2006--DJO Incorporated (NYSE:DJO), a global provider of products and services that promote musculoskeletal and vascular health, today announced the release of the DonJoy® HAT TRICK™, a patented headguard designed to reduce the risk of concussion in soccer.
The DonJoy HAT TRICK incorporates an impact-absorbing foam layer that covers and protects the forehead and templeswithout altering ball rebound speeds. The HAT TRICK is available in two sizes and its four, latex-free adjustable straps maximize comfort and provide a uniform fit. The HAT TRICK meets every performance requirement of ASTM F2439 'Standard Specification for Headgear Used in Soccer' and is permitted by FIFA, the U.S. Soccer Federation, and the National Federation of State High School Associations.
"Head protection in sports, particularly among youth, is becoming more common as has been witnessed in cycling, skiing, snowboarding, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and American football," said Les Cross, president and CEO. "Studies have demonstrated that annual rates of head injuries are comparable among hockey, American football and soccer. In soccer, head injuries may result from head-to-head, head-to-ground, or head-to-goalpost contact. The new DonJoy HAT TRICK headguard is designed to mitigate these types of injuries and is well suited for soccer players of all ages and ability levels."
Soccer now ranks as the largest participatory sport in the world and second largest in the United States behind basketball, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association International. Approximately 19 million people in the United States play soccer, with participation growing at a rate of five to six percent per year for the past decade. There are approximately 250 million active soccer players in the world.
About DJO Incorporated
DJO Incorporated is a global provider of solutions for musculoskeletal and vascular health, specializing in rehabilitation and regeneration products for the non-operative orthopedic, spine and vascular markets. Marketed under the Aircast®, DonJoy® and ProCare® brands, the Company's broad range of over 700 rehabilitation products, including rigid knee braces, soft goods and pain management products, are used in the prevention of injury, in the treatment of chronic conditions and for recovery after surgery or injury. The Company's regeneration products consist of bone growth stimulation devices that are used to treat nonunion fractures and as an adjunct therapy after spinal fusion surgery. The Company's vascular systems products help prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that can occur after orthopedic and other surgeries. Together, these products provide solutions throughout the patient's continuum of care. The Company sells its products in the United States and in more than 60 other countries through networks of agents, distributors and its own direct sales force. Customers include orthopedic, podiatric and spine surgeons, orthotic and prosthetic centers, third-party distributors, hospitals, surgery centers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, other healthcare professionals and individual and team athletes. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.djortho.com.
SOURCE: DJO Incorporated
DJO Incorporated
Media Contact:
Allison Leitz, 760-734-3582
Investor Contact:
Mark Francois, 760-734-4766
