Sports Injuries

Question 1

What can sport injuries involve?

Answer 1

Soft Tissue Injuries

Skin abrasions / cuts / wounds

Major trauma – torn ligaments / broken bones

Question 2

What are the causes of sports injuries?

Answer 2

Inadequate warming up
Poor technique
Over-use
Over-exertion
Not using equipment properly
Contact with another person/equipment
Fall

Question 3

When does soft tissue healing start? How long does it take?

Answer 3

12-24 hours after an injury
May take many weeks or even months to complete

Begins when hematoma has diminished in size allowing room for growth of new tissue

Question 4

When does soft tissue remodelling phase start?

Answer 4

Begins about 3 weeks post injury, overlapping the repair phase and continues for a year or more

Question 5

When should people be referred?

Answer 5

acute injuries that show immediate swelling and severe pain
children under 12 and elderly – refer if any doubt

decreased range of motion indicates severity of injury
excessive range of movement can indicate major ligament tear

inability to bear full weight on foot – major injury

look out for Fractures – particularly small fractures
try and identify any previous treatment failures

associated with DHx

Question 6

How should common injuries be managed?

Answer 6

RICE/MICE

Rest
- for the first 48-72 hours
= allows immobilization, enhances healing and reduces blood flow
- weight bearing not recommended (crutches)

Movement
- after 48 hours is recommended to replace rest and is pain dependent

Ice
- acute phase (apply intermittently)
= promotes vasoconstriction

Compression
- to limit bleeding around the injury.
= watch for signs of restricted circulation such as cold extremities or a change in colour.

Elevation
- raising and resting the affected limb helps fluid drain from affected limb

Question 7

What are rubefacients?

Answer 7

warming or a cooling effect
- warm the area and increase blood flow
= promotes blood flow into the area of injury inducing redness and a feeling of heat

Not for children <5-6 years

Question 8

What are types of complementary therapy for common injuries?

Answer 8

Herbal remedies

Homeopathic
(arnica for bruising has a license)

Massage therapy

TENS machines

Question 9

What are soft tissues injuries?

Answer 9

common conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle and foot.
- muscle, tendons, ligaments, fascia and synovial capsules are all soft tissue structures.

sprains are caused by forcing a joint into an abnormal position that overstretches or twists ligaments

strains involve tearing of muscle fibres, which can be partial or complete, usually a result of overexertion when the muscle is stretched beyond its usual limits.

Question 10

What are the 10 most common sports injuries?

Answer 10

muscle pull
- treat via RICE = days/weeks to heal (muscle tear is weeks/months to heal)

neck pain
- ice, stretch and analgesia

lower back strain or sprain
- treat via RICE (no heat for the 1st 24 hours), analgesia

shin splints
- referral (irritation/swelling/stress fractures)

shoulder impingement
- rest and analgesia (pain and weakness in shoulder, pain when lifting, pain at night)

tennis elbow
- RICE and topical NSAIDs (swelling and pain on the outside)

runner’s knee
- referral but RICE can help initially (aching pain at the front of the knee)

ankle sprain
- RICE and analgesia (swelling/throbbing/black and blue colour)

achilles tendinitis
- RICE and analgesia (inflammation/stiffness)

arch pain
- RICE, NSAIDs, arch support (pain when putting weight on foot, pain when stepping off