Wacky World of Rubber: A possible solution for cauliflower ear

Safety is something all rubber product manufacturers can relate to. And in many cases, their products help others avoid injuries.

Take rugby for instance.

One of the most common side effects from playing the violent sport is cauliflower ear, a condition that develops when the external part of the ear is hit, causing it to develop a blood clot or collect fluid.

The condition is irreversible and not a very nice look, to say the least.

But one mother is taking a stand to try and help prevent it. Brenda Phillips, who has two children—one who plays rugby and the other hockey—asked in this modern era where athletes have protection for just about every part of their body why the ear was so overlooked. There are mouthguards to protect teeth, sliding gloves to protect the fingers from injury in baseball, shoulder pads, nose guards and protective eyewear.

But outside of the occasional helmet that covers the ear, not much else exists. That's not a good thing when playing such a high contact sport, especially ones like rugby and wrestling where high-impact falls to the ground or mat are so common. Take enough hits, and the ear could burst open, eventually leading to cauliflower ear. Once it sustains enough damage, the canal swells over and can permanently effect hearing.

So Phillips took matters into her own hands and developed an ear guard using a silicone-like rubber. The guard fits over the ear thanks to a medical skin adhesive applied to the fitting surface. Phillips said the shields help prevent ear injuries and trauma, and helps to protect ear cartilage.

The product is not just limited to rugby, it could be used in any contact sport. Phillips said in another interview that her product is already in use by rugby players, judo professionals and wrestlers. The product is still in its early stages, but she hopes that more sports will adopt the equipment.

Doesn't seem like a tough sell to me.

Chris Sweeney may never use this product, but recommends it for those golfing slowly in front of him. Follow him on Twitter @CSweeneyRPN.