Injuries Flashcards
HEAT EXHAUSTION
What is Heat Exhaustion?
What are Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion?
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people (including kids) working or exercising in a hot environment.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion
Dehydration, fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, hyperventilation (rapid breathing), irritability, heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting
What is treatment for Heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion treatment
Cooling measures that may be effective include: cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician, rest, cool shower, bath, or sponge bath, an air-conditioned environment, lightweight clothing
What is a HEAT STROKE?
HEAT STROKE
Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia (abnormally elevated body temperature) with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, two less-severe forms of hyperthermia, heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.
The population most susceptible to heat strokes are infants, the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or on certain medications that make them vulnerable to heat strokes), and athletes, or outdoor workers physically exerting themselves under the sun.
Symptoms of heat stroke
Symptoms of heat stroke
Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heat stroke. But common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include: high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, coma.
Heat stroke treatment/prevention
Heat stroke treatment
TREATMENT
Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim. Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for example you may spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, place ice packs under armpits and groins. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Always notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim.
PREVENT
The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated, and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water and Gatorade), but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, and light colored, and light and loose clothes.
INFLAMMATION
Signs and symptoms
INFLAMMATION
Signs and symptoms
• Increased temperature – results from increased blood flow to the injured area due to increased need for white blood cells. Do not use heat – it is like a generalized fever.
• Redness – is due to increased blood flow.
• Swelling – also due to increased blood flow.
• Pain – is often due to pressure on nerve endings from increased swelling.
• Loss of function – is caused by swelling in the area and guarding of the muscles surrounding the injury. This causes more pain.
Treatment for acute musculoskeletal injuries
RICE – rest, ice, compression and elevation
It is important to reduce swelling
Guidelines for RICE
• Rest – avoid continuing the activity that has caused the injury or will make it worse
• Ice – apply for 20-30 minutes. Put some protective layer between the ice and the skin, never apply ice to an already numb area. Then do 15 min every 2h following the injury. For general irritation, do 15 min 2 or 3 times per day
• Compression – elastic bandages can help prevent or reduce excessive swelling. The bandage should always reach from the largest muscle area below the injury to the largest muscle group above the injury.
• Elevation – gravity can help reduce swelling. Raise the injured area as high as possible while still being comfortable. Try to get it above heart level.
1) What is a Strain?
2) How do Strains Heal?
MUSCLE
Muscle is elastic and capable of absorbing a lot of shock. Flexibility and strength are important for preventing injuries of muscles and joints.
1) An injury to muscle tissue is called a strain. Strains can be classified as mild, moderate or severe.
2) Strains heal with collagen, which is not elastic and is laid down in an unorganized pattern. If left unorganized the tissue is weak.
EXTRA INFO:
3) It is important to stretch the area and gradually add some resistance (load) to the injury to help the collagen tissue organize. This helps the tissue line up in the direction of the surrounding muscle fibers and increases the strength of the collagen tissue. But even if organized, it will not be as strong or flexible as the surrounding tissue.
Why is it important to stretch when healing strains?
(An injury to muscle tissue is called a strain.)
Strains heal with collagen, which is not elastic and is laid down in an unorganized pattern. If left unorganized the tissue is weak.
ANSWER:
It is important to stretch the area and gradually add some resistance (load) to the injury to help the collagen tissue organize. This helps the tissue line up in the direction of the surrounding muscle fibers and increases the strength of the collagen tissue. But even if organized, it will not be as strong or flexible as the surrounding tissue.
What happens when a muscle is overused?
Overuse Syndromes
Whenever a muscle is overused, that is, exercised past its state of conditioning, there is actual destruction of the muscle tissue and generation of lactic acid.
Muscle Fatigue
A) What is Muscle fatigue?
B) How is Muscle fatigue manifested?
Muscle Fatigue
A) Simple fatigue, with depletion of energy stores within the muscle,
B) is manifested as weakness, pain on exertion, soreness to the touch, and cramping. In many cases, this is compounded by dehydration, deficiencies of electrolytes (usually sodium and/or potassium), lack of sufficient caloric intake, or a specific injury. The sufferer has been informed by his body that it is time to rest.
Torn Muscle
1) How is a torn muscle recognized?
2) How can you distinguish a torn muscle from a bone injury?
3) When/How should a torn muscle be treated?
4) What the best way to prevent a a torn “pulled” muscle?
Torn Muscle
1) A torn muscle (“pulled” muscle) is recognized as sudden pain in a muscle group associated with a particular vigorous exertion, such as sprinting or lifting a heavy object.
Depending on the severity of the injury, there may be associated bruising, swelling, loss of mobility, and/or weakness.
2) In general, a minor muscle injury can be distinguished from a bone injury by evaluating active and passive range of motion.
3) Minor muscle injuries should be treated in the first 24 hours with immobilization, the application of cold (insulated ice packs or chemical cold packs, for example; do not apply ice directly to the skin) for 30 to 45 (I say 20-30) minutes every 2 to 3 hours, and elevation (this is RICE).
After 48 to 72 hours, the application of heat (warm water or a heating pad, not ointments) and gentle movement should be started.
If a significant injury is suspected (for example, complete tear of the biceps muscle or quadriceps muscle group), the injury should be immobilized as for a fracture and the victim transported to a physician.
4) The best way to prevent a pulled muscle is to stretch and warm up adequately. This allows the local blood flow to increase and minimizes the risk for small tears that can cause spasm, which in turn leads to decreased flexibility.
What is the relationship between flexibility and musculoskeletal injuries
Flexibility and musculoskeletal injuries
A flexible muscle is better able to absorb shock and periodic over stretching than an inflexible muscle. For someone who is less flexible than average, you should design a well-constructed flexibility program. These clients are more prone to muscle injuries, strains and ruptures.
Which heals faster, a tendon or a muscle. Why?
TENDON
Tendons have a lesser blood supply than muscle and therefor heal more slowly. They can be over stretched or torn.
What is Tendonitis?
What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis
Sometimes the tendons become inflamed for a variety of reasons, and the action of pulling the muscle becomes irritating. If the normal smooth gliding motion of your tendon is impaired, the tendon will become inflamed and movement will become painful. This is called tendonitis, and literally means inflammation of the tendon.
