Exercise Physiology - Sports Injuries Flashcards
What is an acute injury?
An injury that occurs suddenly such as a sprained ankle caused by an awkward landing.
What is a chronic injury?
An injury that is caused by repeated overuse of muscle groups or joints.
Give examples of acute injuries.
- Broken bones
- Muscle sprains
- Concussion
- Dislocations
Give examples of chronic injuries.
- Shin splints
- Groin pull
- Stress fracture
- Heel inflammation
How might an acute injury occur in sport?
When a person falls, receives a blow or twists a joint.
How might a chronic injury occur in sport?
Overuse of one area of the body and develop over time.
What is injury prevention?
Strategies and practices aimed at reducing the risk of injuries in sports and physical activities.
Name some methods to prevent injury.
- Screening
- Protective equipment
- Warm up
- Flexibility training/mobility training
- Taping and bracing
What is the purpose of screening in injury prevention?
To identify those at risk of complications from exercise, prepare performers for their sport, enhance performance, and reduce injury.
What are examples of screening?
- Young athletes – CRY heart screening
- Musculoskeletal screening
- Professional sport assessments
What are some disadvantages of screening?
- Some tests are not 100% accurate
- May miss a problem
- Could identify a problem that doesn’t exist
- Increase anxiety
List examples of protective equipment.
- Thigh guards
- Hand guards
- Helmet
- Shin guards
- Ankle guards
- Mouth guard
- Neck pads
- Throat pads
- Leg guards
- Goggles
- Wrist guards
- Elbow pads
What is the first stage of a warm-up?
Pulse raiser - an activity that raises the heart rate, increasing blood flow through active muscles, and raises the body temperature.
What is the second stage of a warm-up?
Stretching - a form of physical exercise that improves muscle elasticity.
What is the third stage of a warm-up?
Sport-related activity - skill-related activity that contributes to the main activity.
What does PNF stand for?
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.
What are the benefits of PNF stretching?
- Improves active and passive range of motion
- Increases flexibility
- Can improve muscular strength
What is the method of PRICE used for?
To help speed up recovery once an injury has occurred.
Who should administer PRICE?
A trained professional.
What types of injuries should PRICE be used for?
Minor soft tissue injuries that involve muscles, ligaments, and tendons, such as mild sprains and strains.
When should PRICE NOT be used?
Fractures, dislocations, and breaks.
What is a hypoxic tent?
A portable altitude chamber that allows users to exercise at altitude without needing to wear a mask.
What are the good points of using hypoxic tents?
- Improved aerobic capacity
- Increased sea level performance after prolonged use
- Reduced occurrence of chronic hypoxia
What are the bad points of using hypoxic tents?
- Risk of hypoxic brain damage
- Respiratory infections
- Impact on training
What is massage?
The practice of kneading or manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft tissue to improve their wellbeing or health.
How does massage work?
Mechanical responses that occur in the body when pressure is applied to the soft tissues.
What are the benefits of massage?
- Better quality of sleep
- Quicker recovery
What is hypoxic training?
The practice of changing barometric pressure but lowering the oxygen concentration inside using a hypoxic air generator.
What is massage?
The practice of kneading or manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft tissue in order to improve their wellbeing or health.
How does massage work?
Causes physiological changes in your body through the relaxation response and mechanical pressure applied to the soft tissues.
What are the good points of massage?
- Better quality of sleep
- Quicker recovery between workouts
- Improved flexibility
- Less pain and soreness
What are the bad points of massage?
- Occasionally causes new physical injuries
- Usually just minor bruises and nerve lesions
What is electrotherapy?
The use of electrical energy as a medical treatment.
How does electrotherapy work?
By stimulating the nerves to distract them from sending pain signals to the brain or by stimulating the brain to produce natural painkillers.
What are the good points of electrotherapy?
- Reduce pain
- Improves circulation
- Repair tissues
- Strengthen muscles
- Promote bone growth
What are the bad points of electrotherapy?
Skin irritation.
What is hydrotherapy?
A branch of alternative medicine that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment.
How does hydrotherapy work?
The warmth of the water allows muscles to relax and eases pain in joints, supporting weight and increasing range of movement.
What are the good points of hydrotherapy?
- Reduced pain
- Faster recovery from surgery
- Re-education of normal movement
- Improved walking technique
- Improved aerobic fitness levels
- Improved balance and coordination
- Increased strength of weak muscles
- Increased range of movement of joints
- Improved independence and function
- Improved circulation
- Mobilising and lengthening muscles
What are the bad points of hydrotherapy?
- Slips, falls or other accidents
- Burns or frostbites
- Infections
