One top tennis star who may have required sports first aid and sports supports recently is seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams.
The player was advised not to train for last month's WTA Cincinnati Open, which took place from August 7th until 15th at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre. The men's contest, however, was staged slightly later and kicked off on August 14th, with the final on the 22nd.
Williams had experienced pain in her knee after returning to her normal training schedule and was told by experts that sports supports would not be sufficient and she needed rest.
She was informed she may jeopardise her chances of competing in the US Open in New York if she put too much strain on the joint.
In a statement released by the organisers of the competition, the athlete said: "Unfortunately, I am not at a point where I can commit to competing [in the Cincinnati Open]."
She added: "My medical advisors and physio have recommended that I refrain from competition until I am pain free."
And she is not the only member of her family who may have required sports first aid over recent weeks, with sister Serena also being ruled out of taking part due to the fact she had sustained a cut on her right foot.
Both Venus and Serena have achieved notable success during their careers and have been ranked number one on a number of occasions.
In addition to a host of grand slam singles and doubles titles, Venus has picked up three Olympic gold medals - making her the most successful female player at the games.
She first achieved the title of world number one in February 2002 and has been among the top seeds ever since.
In addition to her sporting endeavours, she also has embarked on business ventures in the worlds of fashion and interior design.