Pain: Sports Injury

Question 1

Pain: Sports injury

Assessment of Patients with Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries:

Red flags (5)

Answer 1

severe pain
obvious fracture (bones protruding, grating sound)
joint deformity
inability to bear weight on an injured limb
>14 days of symptoms

Question 2

Pain: Sports injury

Red Flags for Eye Injury:

Answer 2

Blurred vision
loss of vision
moderate to severe eye discomfort or pain

Question 3

Pain: Sports injury

Red Flags for Head injury, e.g., concussion:

Answer 3

Confusion
amnesia
headache
loss of consciousness after injury
tinnitus
drowsiness
dizziness
nausea
vomiting
seizures
unusual eye movements
slurred speech

Question 4

Pain: Sports injury

Red Flags for Nosebleed:

Answer 4

Bleeding lasting longer than 20 min

Question 5

Pain: Sports injury

Red Flags for Tympanic membrane perforation
(ruptured eardrum):

Answer 5

Earache
partial hearing loss
slight bleeding or discharge from ear

Question 6

Pain: Sports injury

Monitoring & Follow‐up:

Answer 6

1. Instruct patient to monitor pain and swelling from
   muscle sprain or strain and overuse injuries daily.
2. HCP follow‐up after ~14 days
   ◦ No improvement after 14 days, refer to appropriate
   HCP
3. Monitor efficacy and safety from analgesics

Question 7

treatment < 2 days

Answer 7

RICE regimen +/- oral analgesic

- once swelling subsides and 48 h have passed since acute inquiry, begin next therapy

Question 8

treatment 2-14 days

Answer 8

has initial swelling subsided?
if yes, start heat therapy
- consider oral/topical analgesics