SPORT INJURIES

1.0 Introduction

Sports injuries are commonly caused by overuse, direct impact, or the application of

force that is greater than the body part can structurally withstand. There are two kinds of

sports injuries which are acute and chronic. An injury that occurs suddenly, such as a sprained

ankle caused by an awkward landing, is known as an acute injury. While chronic injuries are

caused by repeated overuse of muscle groups or joints.

The example of the more common sports injuries are ankle sprain, bruises, concussion,

cuts and abrasions, dehydration, dental damage, groin strain, hamstring strain, and nose

injuries. Ankle sprain is the symptoms include pain, swelling and stiffness. Bruises are a blow

can cause small bleeds into the skin. Concussion is a mild reversible brain injury from a blow to

the head, which may be associated with loss of consciousness. The symptoms are including

headache, dizziness and short term memory loss. Cuts and abrasions are usually caused by falls.

The knees and hands are particularly prone. Dehydration are losing too much fluid can lead to

heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dental damage is a blow to the jaw can crack, break or

dislodge teeth. Groin strain symptoms are including pain and swelling. Hamstring strain

symptoms are including pain, swelling and bruising. Nose injuries are either blood nose or

broken nose, are caused by a direct blow.

You can reduce your risk of sports injuries if you

Warm up thoroughly by gently going through the motions of your sport and performing

slow, sustained stretches.

Wear appropriate footwear.

Use the appropriate safety equipment, such as mouth guards, helmets and pads.

Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after the game.

Use good form and technique.

Cool down after sport with gentle, sustained stretches.

Allow adequate recovery time between sessions.

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2.0 Definition of Sport Injuries

The term “sports injury,” defines to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur

during sports or exercise. Some sports injuries result from accidents and others are due to poor

training practices, improper equipment, lack of conditioning, or insufficient warm-up and

stretching.

Although any part of your body can be injured during sports or exercise, the term is

typically reserved for injuries that involve the musculoskeletal system, which includes the

muscles, bones, and associated tissues like cartilage. Following are some of the most common

sports injuries.

3.0 Classification of Sport Injuries

1. Acute Injuries

Acute injuries, such as a sprained ankle, strained back, or fractured hand, occur

suddenly during activity. Signs of an acute injury include the following:

severe pain

swelling

inability to place weight on a lower limb

extreme tenderness in an upper limb

inability to move a joint through its full range of motion

extreme limb weakness

visible dislocation or break of a bone

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Classification

Acute Chronic

SPORT INJURIES

2. Chronic Injuries

Chronic injuries usually result from overusing one area of the body while playing

a sport or exercising over a long period. The following are signs of a chronic injury:

pain when performing an activity

a dull ache when at rest

swelling

4.0 Types of Sport Injuries

1. Sprains and Strains

A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, the band of connective tissues that joins the end

of one bone with another. Sprains are caused by trauma such as a fall or blow to the body that

knocks a joint out of position and, in the worst case, ruptures the supporting ligaments. Sprains

can range from first degree (minimally stretched ligament) to third degree (a complete tear).

Areas of the body most vulnerable to sprains are ankles, knees, and wrists. Signs of a sprain

include varying degrees of tenderness or pain; bruising; inflammation; swelling; inability to

move a limb or joint; or joint looseness, laxity, or instability.

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A strain is a twist, pull, or tear of a muscle or tendon, a cord of tissue connecting

muscle to bone. It is an acute, noncontact injury that results from overstretching or over

contraction. Symptoms of a strain include pain, muscle spasm, and loss of strength.

Although it’s hard to tell the difference between mild and moderate strains, severe

strains not treated professionally can cause damage and loss of function.

2. Knee Injuries

Because of its complex structure

and weight-bearing capacity, the knee is

a commonly injured joint.

Knee injuries can range from mild to severe.

Some of the less severe, yet still painful and

functionally limiting, knee problems are

runner’s knee (pain or tenderness close to or

under the knee cap at the front or side of the

knee), iliotibial band syndrome (pain on the

outer side of the knee), and tendinitis, also

called tendinosis (marked by degeneration within a tendon, usually where it joins the bone).

More severe injuries include bone bruises or damage to the cartilage or ligaments.

There are two types of cartilage in the knee. One is the meniscus, a crescent-shaped disc

that absorbs shock between the thigh (femur) and lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). The

other is a surface-coating (or articular) cartilage. It covers the ends of the bones where they

meet, allowing them to glide against one another. The four major ligaments that support

the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the

medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

3. Compartment Syndrome

In many parts of the body, muscles (along with the nerves and blood vessels that run

alongside and through them) are enclosed in a “compartment” formed of a tough

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membrane called fascia. When muscles become swollen, they can fill the compartment

to capacity, causing interference with nerves and blood vessels as well as damage to the

muscles themselves. The resulting painful condition is referred to as compartment

syndrome.

Compartment syndrome may be caused by a one-time traumatic injury (acute

compartment syndrome),

such as a fractured bone or

a hard blow to the thigh, by

repeated hard blows

(depending upon the sport),

or by ongoing overuse

(chronic exertional

compartment syndrome),

which may occur, for

example, in long-distance running.

4. Shin Splints

Although the term “shin splints” has been widely used to describe any sort of leg

pain associated with exercise, the term actually refers to pain along the tibia or shin

bone, the large bone in the front of the lower leg. This pain can occur at the front

outside part of the lower leg, including the foot and ankle (anterior shin splints) or at the

inner edge of the bone where it meets the calf muscles (medial shin splints).

Shin splints are primarily seen in runners, particularly those just starting a

running program. Risk factors for shin splints include overuse or incorrect use of the

lower leg; improper stretching, warm-up, or exercise technique; overtraining; running or

jumping on hard surfaces; and running in shoes that don’t have enough support. These

injuries are often associated with flat (overpronated) feet.

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5. Achilles Tendon Injuries

An Achilles tendon injury results from

a stretch, tear, or irritation to the tendon

connecting the calf muscle to the back of the

heel. These injuries can be so sudden and

agonizing that they have been known to bring

down charging professional football players in

shocking fashion.

The most common cause of Achilles

tendon tears is a problem called tendinitis, a

degenerative condition caused by aging or

overuse. When a tendon is weakened, trauma

can cause it to rupture.

Achilles tendon injuries are common in middle-aged “weekend warriors” who may

not exercise regularly or take time to stretch properly before an activity. Among

professional athletes, most Achilles injuries seem to occur in quick-acceleration, jumping

sports like football and basketball, and almost always end the season’s competition for the

athlete.

6. Fractures

A fracture is a break in

the bone that can occur

from either a quick, one-

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time injury to the bone (acute fracture) or from repeated stress to the bone over time (stress

fracture).

Acute fractures: Acute fractures can be simple (a clean break with little damage to

the surrounding tissue) or compound (a break in which the bone pierces the skin with little

damage to the surrounding tissue). Most acute fractures are emergencies. One that breaks

the skin is especially dangerous because there is a high risk of infection.

Stress fractures: Stress fractures occur largely in the feet and legs and are common

in sports that require repetitive impact, primarily running/jumping sports such as

gymnastics or track and field. Running creates forces two to three times a person’s body

weight on the lower limbs. The most common symptom of a stress fracture is pain at the

site that worsens with weight-bearing activity. Tenderness and swelling often accompany

the pain.

7. Dislocations

When the two bones that come

together to form a joint become

separated, the joint is described as being

dislocated. Contact sports such as football

and basketball, as well as high-impact

sports and sports that can result in

excessive stretching or falling, cause the

majority of dislocations. A dislocated joint

is an emergency situation that requires medical treatment.

8. The Shoulder Joint

The joints most likely to be dislocated are

some of the hand joints. Aside from these joints,

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the joint most frequently dislocated is the shoulder. Dislocations of the knees, hips, and

elbows are uncommon.

5.0 Symptoms of Sport Injuries

Most sports injuries that need attention have some common warning signs and

symptoms. Acute sports injuries are often obvious, and occur in a dramatic fashion, but other

injuries can creep up slowly and get progressively worse. These often turn into

nagging chronic aches and pains. If you pay attention to the warnings signs and symptoms of

both types of injuries, you can often heal quicker and avoid serious damage or a long-term

problem.

PART OF INJURIES: HEAD/BRAIN

Symptoms of a brain injury include:

The severity of symptoms depends on whether the injury is mild, moderate or severe.

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Unconsciousness

Inability to remember the cause of the injury

or events that occurred Immediately before or

up to 24 hours after

Confusion and disorientation

Difficulty remembering new information

Headache Dizziness Blurry vision Nausea and vomiting

Ringing in the ears Trouble speaking coherently

Changes in emotions or sleep patterns

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Mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, either doesn't knock you out

or knocks you out for 30 minutes or less. Symptoms often appear at the time of the

injury or soon after, but sometimes may not develop for days or weeks. Mild traumatic

brain injury symptoms are usually temporary and clear up within hours, days or weeks,

but they can last months or longer.

Moderate traumatic brain injury causes unconsciousness lasting more than 30 minutes.

Symptoms of moderate traumatic brain injury are similar to those of mild traumatic

brain injury but more serious and longer-lasting.

Severe traumatic brain injury knocks you out for more than 24 hours. Symptoms of

severe traumatic brain injury are also similar to those of mild traumatic brain injury but

more serious and longer-lasting.

PART OF INJURIES: BODY

Symptoms of body injuries include:

Joint Pain

Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist, should never be

ignored. Because these joints are not covered by muscle, pain here is rarely of muscular

origin. Joint pain that lasts more than 48 hours requires a physician's diagnosis.

Tenderness at a Specific Point

If you can elicit pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or joint, by pressing your finger

into it, you may have a significant injury. If the same spot on the other side of the body

does not produce the same pain, you should probably see a physician.

Swelling

nearly all sports injuries cause swelling. Swelling is usually quite

obvious and can be seen, but occasionally you may just feel as

though something is swollen even though it looks normal.

Swelling usual goes hand-in-hand with pain, redness and heat.

Swelling within a joint often causes pain, stiffness, and may produce a clicking sound as the

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tendons snap over one another after having been pushed into a new position from the

swelling.

Reduced Range of Motion

If swelling isn't obvious, you can usually find it by checking for a reduced range of motion in

a joint. If there is significant swelling within a joint, you will lose range of motion -- the limb

will only go so far in each direction. Again, compare one side of the body with the other to

identify major differences; if there are any, you likely have an injury that needs attention.

Comparative Weakness

Comparing one side to the other for weakness is often hard to do, but can be helpful when

assessing an injury. One way to tell is to lift the same weight with the right and left side and

look at the result. Or try to place body weight on one leg and then the other. A difference in

your ability to support your weight is another tip-off to an injury that requires attention.

Numbness and Tingling

Never ignore numbness or tingling. Such sensations are often related to nerve compression,

and these warning signs may indicate serious injury that should always be seen by a

physician.

6.0 Emergency Treatments of Sport Injuries

The primary goal of sports injury first aid is to stop activity and prevent further injury or

damage. The most sports injuries treatment methods that are RICE, RIPM, DRABC and TOTAPS.

RICE Method

The majority acute of acute sports injuries will be treated by using the RICE method. The

RICE methods include Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Injuries such as muscle sprains,

strains, tears and fractures may all be treated according to these methods.

An acute injury is an injury that occurred recently as a result of a traumatic event. The first

treatment for most acute soft tissue injuries is to prevent, stop and reduce swelling. The

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examples of soft tissue injuries are bruises, strains, springs and tears. When soft tissue is

damaged, it swells or possibly bleeds internally.

Rest

- The affected area should be rested in order to

prevent further damage and to allow the tissues

time to heal.

Ice

Applying

ice packs to an acute injury reduces swelling

and pain. Applying ice will causes the blood

vessels to narrow and limits internal bleeding

at the injury site. Apply ice to the affected

area every two hours for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

Compression

- The area around the injury should be compressed using a

bandage or support. This will protect the injured area and

reduce swelling.

Elevation

The affected limb or joint should be elevated

to decrease blood flow to the area, which will

prevent inflammation.

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RIPM Method

Overuse injuries are commonly treated by RIPM methods. The RIPM methods are rest,

ice, physical therapy and medicine. Injuries such as shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow,

runner’s knee and jumper’s knee can be treated using these methods.

Overuse injuries are more common in sports than acute injuries. Overuse injuries are

caused by repetitive actions, which damage tendons, ligaments, muscles and soft tissue over a

period of time. They are subtle and usually occur over time, making them challenging to

diagnose and treat. The examples of overuse injuries are tennis elbow, runner’s knee, jumper’s

knee, Achilles tendinitis and shin splints.

Rest

- The athlete need to take time off from the activity that caused by overuse injury.

Ice

- Put ice packs on the injured area for 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off. The athlete

may use the ice as many times per day as you want. But do not leave the ice on for

longer than 30 minutes. Do not put ice directly on the skin.

Physical therapy

- Your healthcare provider may send you to a physical therapist. Often you will do

some gentle stretching and some strengthening exercises. You may also have

ultrasound treatments that provide deep heat to injured tissues and help them heal

faster.

Medicine

- Take an anti-inflammatory medicine to help with

pain and inflammation. But, adults aged 65 years

and older should not take non-steroidal anti-

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inflammatory medicine for more than seven days without their healthcare provider’s

approval.

DRABC Method

DRABC method is a standard First Aid routine that has been taught for use in cases of

serious injury, especially when the casualty is unconscious. DRABC stand for Danger, Response,

Airway, Breathing and Circulation.

Danger

- Observe the immediate area and check for possible risk to the injured person,

yourself or anyone else.

Response

- Ask the injured person to respond to you. If the casualty is conscious and able to talk

it may be possible to ask about the situation. In that case the remaining ABC would

not be necessary. If not have any response, call ambulance.

Airway

- If a casualty does not respond and so appears to

be unconscious, check if his or her airway is clear.

Check that the person’s head is in a suitable

position to allow breathing.

Breathing

Check if the casualty is breathing. If the casualty is

not breathing even though his/her airway is clear,

you must do CPR. Five breaths in ten seconds.

Circulation

- Check if blood is circulating around the body by looking for a pulse. One good place

to check for a pulse is at the carotid artery in the neck. If no pulse, do commence

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cardiac massage. Fifteen compressions each ten seconds, then two breathe in five

seconds.

TOTAPS Method

The TOTAPS stand for Talk, Observe, Touch, Active movement, Passive movement and

Skill test. The TOTAPS procedure is the most effective way to assess an injury. The TOTAPS

procedure provides information about the extent of the injury and whether the athlete should

continue with activity or seek medical attention.

Talk

- Talk to the injured person to determine what happened, where it hurts and what

kind of pain it is.

Observe

- Observe the injured person and any irregularities in limbs and the suspected injured

area. Then compares with the opposite side.

Touch

- Touch the suspected injured area to determine severity of the injury.

Active movement

- Ask the injured person to move the injured part without assistance.

Passive movement

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- If the injured person is able to move the injured part, attempt to move the injured

area through a full range of motion.

Skill test

- If none of the above procedures has resulted in pain, the injured person should

stand and show they have the ability to perform the game’s skill. If an injury is

identified, the injured person should be removed from the activity and treated.

7.0 Conclusion

As a conclusion, people should be aware of strains and sprains during physical activities.

Remember to always treat with proper care and be aware of how it can be happen to anyone.

The treatment of sports injuries are depends on the type and severity of the injury. We

must see our doctor if pain persists after a couple of days. What we think is a straightforward

sprain may actually be a fractured bone.

Through physiotherapy also can help to rehabilitate the injured site and, depending on

the injury. We may include exercises to promote strength and flexibility. Returning to sport

after injury depends on our doctor’s or physiotherapist’s assessment. Trying to play before the

injury is properly healed will only cause further damage and delay recovery.

The biggest single risk factor for soft tissue injury is a previous injury. In the meantime,

you can maintain your fitness by choosing forms of exercise that don’t involve your injury. For

example, ride a stationary bicycle while your sprained wrist is healing.

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8.0 References

Internet

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/treatinginjuries/a/Injury_FirstAid.htm

http://www.nsmi.org.uk/articles/sports-injury-treatment/immediate-treatment.html

http://www.nsmi.org.uk/articles/overuse-injuries.html

http://rdfteam.com/how-to-recover-from-an-injury-when-training-for-an-upcoming-

rundisney-race/

http://www.prohealthphysio.co.nz/files/171_20130725150129-1374721289.pdf

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http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/Sports/Injuries/DRABC-Procedure.php

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