Ch. 5 - Athletic Injuries

Question 1

When NOLS mentions “Athletic Injuries” what does that include?

Answer 1

Injury to Muscles, Tendons, or Ligaments - often as sprains, strains, and tendonitis. (Sprains refer to ligaments; Strains refer to muscle and tendons).

Question 2

How do we assess an Athletic Injury?

Answer 2

1. Evaluate MOI (Sudden and traumatic, or gradual overuse injury)?
2. Signs and Symptoms (Swelling, pain, discoloration).
3. Ask patient to move joint through full range of motion and detect pain. If they can bear weight on injured limb and pain and swelling are not too severe, treat in field.
4. Severe pain, sound of a pop at time of injury, and inability to use the joint suggest serious injury, possibly fracture. Immobilize and evacuate.

Question 3

How do we treat Athletic injuries?

Answer 3

1. Decide if it is Usable or Unusable. If usable, manage the pain with drugs and support with tape, wrap or brace.
2. Ice 20-40 minutes every 2-4 hours for 24-48 hours.
   Elevation or compression may help with swelling, but not much evidence.

Question 4

What is the most common type of Ankle sprain?

Answer 4

Inversion injuries account for 85% = the bottom of foot turns in towards body and ankle rolls outward, spraining ligaments in outer ankle.

Question 5

How do you wrap an ankle sprain?

Answer 5

Insert picture

Question 6

How do we treat ankle sprains?

Answer 6

If unusable due to severe sprain, splint and immobilize it.

If it is usable, RICE for 24-48 hours and see if it improves, if so wrap for support and continue.

Question 7

What is tendonitis?

Answer 7

It is an overuse injury affecting the tendon sheaths which become inflamed. There is low blood flow to tendons so they heal slowly but are painful. It is not an acute, traumatic injury.

Question 8

How do we assess tendonitis?

Answer 8

Swelling, redness, warmth, localized pain related to overuse.

Question 9

How do we treat Achilles Tendonitis?

Answer 9

To relieve a stretch, provide a heel lift.
TO relieve direct pressure from boot, cut a 6in by 1 in foamlite padding and place one on either side of the Achilles without touching it.

Question 10

How do we treat forearm tendonitis?

Answer 10

RICE; Tape to limit movement and therefore pain.

Question 11

How do we treat muscle strains?

Answer 11

RICE; once initial inflammation has subsided, give heat, massage, and gentle stretching.
If a patient has Radiating muscle pain, unmanageable pain, pain secondary to an illness, or pain from severe trauma mechanism EVACUATE.