Acute and Chronic Injuries- definitions, types, causes and treatment of common sporting injuries

Question 1

Provide a definition of an acute injury.

Answer 1

An acute injury is caused by a sudden trauma to the body (e.g. hard rugby tackle, kick to the face) and results in immediate pain and possibly swelling

Question 2

Identify 5 different types of acute injury.

Answer 2

• muscle strains
• ligament strains
• fractures
• concussion
• contusions (bruises)
• abrasions
• blisters
• cramp

Question 3

What is the difference between a strain and a sprain

Answer 3

A strain involves muscle damage, A sprain involves ligament damage.

Question 4

For a muscle strain provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 4

Definition- a strain is an injury involving tearing of the muscle.
Cause- muscle contracts too quickly (e.g. hamstring tear in a 200m sprinter)
Symptoms- pain, loss of strength, muscle spasm, possible swelling
Treatment- R.I.C.E., Rehabilitation exercises

Question 5

For a ligament sprain provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 5

Definition- a sprain is an injury involving the tearing of a ligament
Cause- twisting or excessive force being applied to the joint (e.g. twisting ankle in basketball when landing a jump)
Symptoms-pain, swelling, instability, sometimes unable to move limb
Treatment- R.I.C.E., rehabilitation exercises, surgery

Question 6

For a fracture provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 6

Definition- a broken bone (open or closed fracture)
Cause- extreme force applied to bone (e.g. broken femur from a crash in F1 motor sport)
Symptoms- loss of movement, pain , swelling
Treatment- keep bone still (use a splint), ring emergency services, casting or surgery

Question 7

For a concussion provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 7

Definition- trauma to the brain
Cause- impact to the head/brain (e.g. banging head in a rugby tackle)
Symptoms- headache, dizziness, memory loss, confusion
Treatment- removal from activity, apply ice pack for pain, do not leave patient alone

Question 8

For a contusion provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 8

Definition- a bruise, damaged blood vessels under the skin
Cause- impact to part of the body (e.g. punched in the face in boxing- black eye)
Symptoms- bruising, swelling, pain
Treatment- R.I.C.E.

Question 9

For a blister provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 9

Definition- caused by friction/rubbing on the skin
Cause- poorly fitting shoes, sweaty feet (e.g. blisters on sole of feet from running a marathon)
Symptoms- pain, blister forms over affected area
Treatment- sterilise/clean the blister, cover with a plaster, allow to heal naturally

Question 10

For cramp provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 10

Definition- cramp is when the muscle goes into spasm and refuses to relax
Cause- competing in heat, dehydration, extreme fatigue (e.g. footballer suffers cramp in calf muscle during extra time)
Symptoms- pain, extreme tightness in muscle (spasm)
Treatment- stretch and relax the muscle immediately, use ice packs in extreme cases to ease pain

Question 11

For an abrasion provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 11

Definition- grazes and cuts
Cause- tearing, shearing or cutting of the skin (e.g. falling in cycling and grazing legs on the road)
Symptoms- bleeding, pain, swelling
Treatment- sterilise/clean the wound, cover with a plaster or dressing

Question 12

Provide a definition of a chronic injury.

Answer 12

A chronic injury is also know as an overuse injury. These are as a result of continuous stress on an area of the body. These injuries come on over a period of time.

Question 13

Give three examples of chronic injuries.

Answer 13

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Shin Splints
• Tennis Elbow
• Golfer’s Elbow

Question 14

For Achilles Tendonitis provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 14

Definition- achilles tendonitis occurs when the achilles tendon become
s swollen from it being put under to much strain
Cause- usually the result of strenuous, high impact exercise (e.g. running)
Symptoms- pain in the heel, swelling and warm
Treatment- rest, ice area, reduce activity levels/change activities, in extreme cases surgery

Question 15

For Shin Splints provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 15

Definition- shin splints refers to pain in the front of the shins, caused by an inflammation to the front of the tibia (shin) bone
Cause- excessive running on hard surfaces (e.g. road)
Symptoms- pain along the front of shin, pain gets worse with exercise
Treatment- rest, ice area, reduce activity levels/change activities, in extreme cases surgery

Question 16

For Tennis Elbow provide the following information:
Definition (1)
Cause (1)
Symptoms (3)
Treatment (2)

Answer 16

Definition- tennis elbow is pain around the outside of the elbow joint, pain gets worse when elbow is straigthened
Cause- overuse of forearm muscles attached to your elbow joint
Symptoms- pain when moving elbow, swelling over outside of elbow
Treatment- rest, ice area, reduce activity levels/change activities, in extreme cases surgery