OPTION 3 SPORTS MEDICINE Flashcards
(34 cards)
Ways to classify sports injuries: DIRECT
Caused by forces generated from outside the body
- E.G. tackle in rugby causes shoulder dislocation
- Signs & Symptoms = pain, tenderness, swelling, ↓ function, deformity
- Causes = collision or direct contact, external forces
Ways to classify sports injuries: INDIRECT
Caused by an intrinsic force and result from excessive stress on muscles, ligaments and tendons
- E.G. sprinter tearing a hamstring in a race
- Signs & Symptoms = pain, tenderness, swelling, ↓ function, deformity
- Causes = inadequate warm-up, excessive movement, internal force
Ways to classify sports injuries: SOFT
Acute damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, skin, blood vessels, organs and nerves
- E.G. sprain (which may involve severe and requires long rehabilitation)
Ways to classify sports injuries: HARD
Damage affecting bones and teeth
- E.G. fractured tibia in the leg or dislodging a tooth
Ways to classify sports injuries: OVERUSE
sustained injuries from repetitive use of a particular body part over a long period of time
- E.G. a stress fracture in the tibia of a marathon runner
- Signs & Symptoms = persistent pain, tenderness, swelling, ↓ function
- Causes = repetitive use, trauma on bones/joints/tendons/muscle, poorly designed training schedules
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
- Tears (strains)
- Sprains
- Contusions (bruise)
- Skin abrasions
- Lacerations
- Blisters
What are tears (strains)
Occurs when tissue is excessively stretched or severed
- Blood flow bruising may be present at the point of injury
- Grade 1: fibres stretched & minor tearing
- Grade 2: a considerable amount of damaged fibres
- Grade 3: full muscle tear
What are sprains
Arises from the stretching or tearing of a ligament (connects bone to bone) and severity is measured using grades
- 1st degree: little damage/minor tear
- 2nd degree: moderate damage/half tear
- 3rd degree: extensive damage/full tear
What are contusions (bruises)
Caused by a sudden blow to the body, thus interrupting blood flow to the surrounding tissues
- Varys in intensity
- E.G. a haematoma forms on the bone as the blood clots
What are skin abrasions
- The skin area may be embedded with dirt, so requires cleansing to prevent infection
- Causes pain and shallow bleeding as a result of the skin being scraped
- Treatment: gentle cleansing & sterilisation to prevent infection
What are lacerations
- Wounds where the flesh has incurred an irregular tear
- Treatment: Stop bleeding, prevent infection, apply a non-adherent dressing & immobilise the wound
What are blisters
- Caused by a collection of fluid below or within the epidermal layer of the skin
- if blister top breaks, an infection may occur so must be kept clean
Identify is the inflammatory response
When a soft tissue injury occurs, the body activates a self-healing response
- Involves vasodilation allowing for more blood & fluid to exit the vessels and increase white blood cells
- Has 3 phases within it
What is Phase 1 in the inflammatory response
- Inflammatory stage: occurs in the first 48 - 72 hours
- Inflammation & redness is fast and painful & involves the vasodilation of blood vessels
- Increased blood flow to area and formation of blood cells to promote healing
What is Phase 2 in the inflammatory response
- Repair stage: occurs after 3 days - 6 weeks
- The body begins to fix the damaged site
- White blood cells clean up the debris from the injury and new tissues are formed
- Proper healing as scar tissue is weaker than normal
What is Phase 3 in the inflammatory response
- Remodelling stage: occurs after 6 weeks - many months
- Remodelling varies depending on the severity of injury and rest period taken by an athlete
- Continues to rebuild the injured area, as scar tissue is strengthened
- Balance of rest/exercise is important to build athlete to full health
Why do you use RICER to manage soft tissue injuries
- Used to manage soft tissue injuries to reduce scarring and pain for faster recovery
- Immediately helps stop bleeding and swelling
‘R’ is for Rest
- Avoid using the injured area for 48 – 72 hours post-injury
- Resting ensures reduced blood flow, therefore reduced swelling & prevent further damage
‘I’ is for Ice
- Use ice or cold pack to reduce blood flow, pain and swelling
- Ice should remain for 20 mins every two hours for the first 48 hours
- Ice causes vasocontraction reducing inflammation, but when ice is off, blood flow continues & increases the inflammatory response
‘C’ is for Compression
- Apply elastic wrap or bandage with a firm pressure & maintain up to 72 hours
- Pressure helps force fluid away from the area reducing inflammation
‘E’ is for Elevation
- If possible, raise the injured area above the person’s heart (done in the first 72hrs)
- Assists in venous & lymphatic drainage of blood
- Eliminates the effects of gravity on blood pooling
‘R’ is for Referral
- To ensure no further damage, a referral to a medical professional or physio to be correctly diagnosed and full rehabilitation
Types of Hard Tissue Injuries
- Fractures
2. Dislocation
What are Fractures
Fractures can either be:
- Incomplete
- Complete
- Simple (bones breaks & remains under the skin)
- Compound (bones protrudes through the skin)
- They can be classified as greenstick, comminute, depressed or oblique
Management include:
- DRSABCD
- Control any bleeding
- Treating shock
- Splint to immobilise the area
- Medical assistance