Sports Injury Flashcards
What are the main causes of sudden death when exercising?
> 35- heart disease
<35 - congenital heart defects
What sports pose the greatest risk in terms of fatalities?
Sports involving height, water
How does injury differ based on usage?
Acute injuries (fractures) vs chronic use problems (stress fracture)
What is microtrauma?
Injuries typically due to overuse
Involves: overload, tissue injury, inflammation, pain, continued activity/rehab
What are some intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to overload?
Extrinsic: training error, poor technique, incorrect equipment, poor conditions
Intrinsic: anatomical, muscle imbalance
What are possible causes of injury to bone?
Direct (tackle), indirect (twisting/fall)
What are classifications of bone fracture injury?
transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted (several fragments), avulsion (piece of bone attached to tendon/ligament is torn away)
What are complications for bone injury?
Infection- particularly in open fractures,
Acute compartment syndrome- fracture where soft tissue damage present (local bleeding) in small area (calf), causes compression on structures in the area
Associated injury- nerve/blood vessels
DVT/Pulmonary embolism- especially in lower limbs (prevent with early movement, anticoagulants)
Delayed union/non-union
Malunion- not ideal healing of fracture
How is articular cartilage injury evaluated?
Doesn’t show up in X-ray
MRI and arthroscopy
How do we improve articular cartilage damage?
Perforation- try to stimulate localized response by perforating bone below injury
Alteration of joint loading
Cell transplantation- chondrocytes via donation or lab techniques onto injury
What are some complications to joint injury?
Associated nerve or vessel damage (i.e. axillary nerve in shoulder)
What is treatment for joint injury?
Reduction Muscle relaxants Protect to allow soft tissue to heal Mobilization Rebuild muscle strength
What is the function of the ligament?
To increase joint stability
What are the grades of ligament injury?
- Fibres stretched but integrity remains intact- no complete tear
- More fibres involved, some torn, laxity on stressing but definite end point (when stretching it, there is an endpoint)
- Complete tear, excessive laxity, no end point. May be less pain due to tear
What are the different management approaches to ligament injury?
Grade 1/2- Promote tissue healing, prevent stiffness, protect, strengthen muscle,
Grade 3- Conservative (bracing) or surgical (direct repair)
When does muscle injury occur?
When muscle demand exceeds muscle capacity
What muscles are most commonly affected in terms of injury?
Hamstrings, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius
What are the grades of muscle injury?
1: few fibres injured, localised pain, no loss of strength
2: Significant fibres injured, swelling, pain on contraction, reduced strength
3: complete tear, most common at musculotendinous junctions
What is typical treatment of a muscle rupture?
Rice (rest, ice, compression, elevation) Nsaids Electrotherapy (not as common now) Strength/ stretching Surgery
What is a muscle contusion?
Direct blow to muscle
Common in contact sports
Results in local damage and bleeding
Avoiding heat, alcohol, and vigorous massage (initially)
What is a myositis ossificans?
Bony calcifications within the muscle
Happens when haematoma in muscle calcifies
Diagnosed via x-ray
Most resolve spontaneously, recovery is slow
Where do tendon injuries typically happen?
Point of least blood supply
What is Achilles tendinopathy?
Tendon attaching calf muscle (gastrocnemius) inserting onto posterior calcaneum is injured
Local tenderness and pain (uphill)
As swelling is not typical, so called tendinopathy now
What is the retrocalcaneal bursa?
small fluid filled sac (bursa) allowing for easy movement/reduced friction of Achilles tendon over calcaneus
What is treatment of Achilles tendinopathy?
Active rest Alter training schedule (no hills) Heel wedge Surgery No steroid injections (inflammation is not common) Immobilization
What is neuropraxia?
Paralysis and weakness of muscles innervated by associated nerve loss.
Support in neck brace until spontaneous healing
