Topic 6: Soft Tissue Injuries

Question 1

A crushing injury from a direct blow that results in capillary rupture, bleeding, edema, and an inflammatory response. (…a bruise)

Answer 1

Contusion

Question 2

Trauma to a muscle and/or its tendon from overstretching or violent contraction. There is some degree of disruption to the musculotendinous unit.

Answer 2

Strain

Question 3

Overstretching, partial tearing, or complete tearing of a ligament (or joint capsule) due to trauma.

Answer 3

Sprain

Question 4

A fracture that occurs as the result of the pulling of soft tissue attached to the bone from a trauma.

Answer 4

Avulsion

Question 5

An incomplete disruption of boney continuity that often involves soft tissue injury.

Answer 5

Subluxation

Question 6

Bleeding into a joint, usually due to a severe trauma

Answer 6

Hemarthrosis

Question 7

Swelling in the joint. Abnormal fluid accumulation can result from inflammation, infection or trauma and may be an exudate, transudate, blood and/or fat.

Answer 7

Joint effusion

Question 8

Ballooning of the wall of a joint capsule or tendon sheath

Answer 8

Ganglion

Question 9

A condition in which a muscle is elongated beyond physiological neutral but not beyond the normal ROM.

Answer 9

Stretch weakness

Question 10

The most severe form of muscle tightness. It is often overlooked clinically. Overused muscle shortens over time, changing the muscle’s length–tension curve and becoming more readily activated and weaker after time. There is also an increase in the non-contractile tissue and a decrease in elasticity, leading to hypertrophy. Ultimately, overuse leads to ischemia and degeneration of muscle fibers, which further weakens the muscle.

Answer 10

Tightness weakness

Question 11

Increased interstitial pressure in a closed, nonexpanding, myofascial compartment that compromises the function of the blood vessels, muscles, and nerves.

Answer 11

Compartment Syndrome

Question 12

Acute stage of tissue healing usually lasts _ – _ _____s, unless injury is aggravated

Answer 12

4-6 days

Question 13

Collagen fibres will align according to the _______ placed upon them.

Answer 13

Stresses

Question 14

In the subacute stage of healing, pain may be experienced __________ with tissue resistance towards the end of available range.

Answer 14

Synchronous with tissue resistance

Question 15

The subacute stage of healing usually lasts __ to __ ____s

Answer 15

10-17 days (14 to 21 days after the onset of injury)

Question 16

Severity of Tissue Injury
Grade __
- Mild pain at time of injury or within 24 hrs.
- Mild swelling, local tenderness, and pain when the tissue is stressed

Answer 16

Grade 1

Question 17

Severity of Tissue Injury
Grade __
- Moderate pain that requires stopping the activity (possibly able to resume after some interruption with lower grade injury)
- Stress and palpation of tissue greatly increase the pain
- When injury is to ligaments, some of the fibres are torn = increased joint mobility

Answer 17

Grade 2

Question 18

Severity of Tissue Injury
Grade __
- Near-complete or complete tear or avulsion of the tissue (tendon/ligament) with severe pain
- Stress to the tissue is usually painless
- Palpation may reveal the defect
- Torn ligament results in instability of the joint

Answer 18

Grade 3

Question 19

Crushing injury to soft tissue, often resulting from direct trauma. Capillary rupture, bleeding, enema, inflammatory response. Skin is intact.

Answer 19

Contusion

Question 20

A swelling comprised of a mass of blood that is confined to an organ, space, or tissue and caused by a break in a blood vessel.

Answer 20

Hematoma

Question 21

Type of hematoma where bleeding is between the muscles. Blood disperses early and recovery is faster with less scar tissue.

Answer 21

Intermuscular Hematoma

Question 22

Type of hematoma where bleeding occurs within the muscle (contained by fascia/surrounding tissue). There is a longer recovery with more scar tissue formation. There is also a higher risk of developing myositis ossificans, or compartment syndromes.

Answer 22

Intramuscular Hematoma

Question 23

Formation of osseous tissue within muscle. Incidence: increases with severity and/or repetitive contusions, and poor treatment.

Answer 23

Myositis Ossificants

Question 24

_________ is most likely if joint is in a position of instability when the force is applied (e.g. shoulder)

Answer 24

Dislocation

Question 25

T/F: Reducing dislocations is a great indication for massage therapy techniques.

Answer 25

False: reducing dislocations is outside the scope of practice for Massage Therapy