UNIT 2.- SPORT INJURIES: SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT Every year, millions of teenagers participate in high school sports. An injury to a high school athlete can be a significant disappointment for the teen, the family, and the coaches. The pressure to play can lead to decisions that may lead to additional injury with long-term effects. High school sports injuries can cause problems that require surgery as an adult, and may lead to arthritis later in life. When a sports injury occurs, it is important to quickly seek proper treatment. To ensure the best possible recovery, athletes, coaches, and parents must follow safe guidelines for returning to the game. 1. What are sports injuries? Everyone from the average gym-goer to the serious athlete is likely to experience some form of injury at some point. A sports injury is any sports-related injury that occurs during exercise which involves the musculoskeletal system including the bones, muscles and cartilage. The most common causes of sports injuries include accidents, bad form, an inadequate warm-up or from performing exercises beyond your current level of strength or fitness. The most common types of sport injuries include: Sprains Strains Knee injuries Achilles tendon injuries Fractures Dislocations 2. Causes of sports injuries. Everyone from well-conditioned athletes to weekend warriors can suffer a sports injury. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 1
Weakness in the muscles, ligaments and tendons following vigorous exercise is often caused by inadequate fitness and a failure to warm-up properly as well as engaging in an activity you re not properly conditioned for yet. This is often a cause of injury. When muscles are not used regularly muscle wasting can occur, meaning the muscle fibres have become weakened, so when you do attempt to engage in vigorous exercise beyond your physical capability you may feel tired quickly and this can lead to injury. The good news however is that with regular exercise and training the muscles will adapt and strengthen. Poor flexibility is another factor in unconditioned athletes behind a sports-related injury. Flexibility is important because it affects how the body moves. Muscles work together to create smooth movement, so if there is tightness or inflexibility in one muscle it can directly affect the opposing muscle and limit range of motion, which in time can weaken the muscles and the joint. Over time these muscle imbalances can affect posture and can cause injury. The best way to improve flexibility is through regular stretching exercises, either static or dynamic. If you struggle with flexibility these should be a daily part of your routine. A thorough warm-up is also essential to prepare the muscles and joints for exercise. There are, however, different causes behind different sports injuries. These are the most common: Overtraining Simply put, this is doing too much, too often with insufficient rest between. A lack of adequate recovery time coupled with amplified intensity of training is the most common cause of overtraining. Symptoms include: - Excessive fatigue - Troubled sleep - Inability to concentrate - Inability to perform the exercise or sport with the correct technique. A physiological sign of overtraining is also an increased resting heart rate. The best way to avoid overtraining is to ensure adequate rest between sessions. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 2
Overuse Repetitive strain injuries are caused by repeated actions which apply pressure to a certain group of muscles, joint or area of soft tissue. They usually worsen over time and include injuries such as tennis elbow, golfer s knee, thrower s shoulder (impingement syndrome), plantar fasciitis and jumper s knee (patellar tendonitis). Symptoms include: - Gradual pain which worsens over time, sometimes with swelling and/or bruising. Ensuring adequate rest between sessions is the best way to avoid an overuse injury. Improper warm-up Failure to perform a proper warm-up can put you at risk for injury as the muscles and joints are not prepared for exercise. A warm-up is necessary to increase body temperature and circulation of blood to the muscles. A 15-20 minute warm-up should include a combination of stretching and cardiovascular exercises to prepare the body for exercise, increases performance levels and helps to prevent injuries. Poor technique Any exercise or sport which is performed repetitively with bad form is a recipe for injury. Over time the symptoms of injuries being caused by improper technique will be exacerbated and can either lead to a more serious condition or result in more acute injuries. The best way to avoid repeatedly performing an exercise/sport with the incorrect technique is to make sure you use a professional coach or trainer to show you the correct way to do things from the beginning and to ensure you re wearing to appropriate clothing, shoes and using the right equipment. Impact Perhaps the hardest to avoid, sports injuries caused by impact are most common in contact sports such as football, rugby and boxing etc. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 3
The impact of coming into hard contact with another person/object can force unnatural or unexpected twisting and quick direction-change which can in turn cause damage to connective tissue or even joint dislocation. Common injuries here include cuts, bruising, head injuries, muscle pain and dislocated joints, spinal injuries, ligament and tendon damage, fractures and head and spinal injuries. As impact and contact is often a requirement of many sports the only way to reduce the risk is to wear protective clothing if possible, such as shin pads or helmets. 3. Common sports injuries. A sports injury can be either acute or chronic. An acute injury is one which occurs abruptly and is often the cause of injuries such as sprained ankles, fractures and strained backs. A chronic injury is one which does not come on suddenly bur rather occurs as a result of overuse of a certain limb or joint over a long period of time. Generally the most common causes behind sports injuries are from unintentional accidents, using bad form during an exercise, performing an inadequate warm-up prior to exercise or doing a sport or from performing exercises or partaking in a sport which is beyond your ability. Areas of the body most commonly affected include joints, ligaments, tendons. Common injuries include sprains and strains, tendon injuries, fractures and dislocations. Sprains Sprains occur when a ligament tears. Typically caused by trauma knocking a joint out of position and damaging supporting ligaments. Areas most affected include ankles, knees, and wrists. Strains Strains are caused by a twist, pull, or tearing of a muscle or tendon from overstretching or over-contraction of a muscle. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 4
Tendon injuries Tendons can be torn or completely rupture which can be extremely painful. If the tendon is completely ruptured it will need to be repaired surgically whereas a partial tea, called tendinitis, is usually a cause of ageing or overuse. Joint injuries Tendinitis: This refers to acute tendon injuries which occur with inflammation. Tendinosis: This is a chronic condition which occurs over time from small tendon injuries which don't heal properly. Inflammation is not characteristic, although can occur at the initial injury. Tendinopathy: Tendinopathy is a general term for tendon damage caused by overuse, micro tears, and collagen degeneration, evidenced by inflammation, pain, and weakness. The joint areas most commonly affected by tendinopathy are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Knee injuries most commonly often occur from hard twisting or sharp bending movements, hard landings, improper warm-ups and forceful extension. Often damage is caused to the cartilage or ligaments in and around the knee. Fractures Fractures can either be caused a result of hard, sudden impact (acute) or as a result of repetitive stress to that bone over time (stress fracture). Dislocation Dislocations arise when two bones which are joined at a joint are dislocated from each other. Those most are risk for this type of injury includes people who participate in contact sports such as rugby, wrestling and martial arts. The joints most commonly affected include the ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw. Concussion Concussion is a mild, traumatic brain injury, common in many sports such as rugby and cricket. Identifying a concussion and providing appropriate treatment as soon as possible is vital, especially for younger athletes. One of the main areas for concern with concussion is that players often return to play too soon. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 5
Although concussion is generally short-lived and lasts between 7 to 10 days, this can put them at risk for other concussions and repeat concussions can have long-term consequences. Common symptoms of concussion include drowsiness, headache, loss of consciousness, memory loss, Irritability and confusion and balance problems with dizziness. 4. Symptoms of sports injuries. If you suspect you have an injury from exercise or sport, the first thing you need to do is stop doing it and rest the affected area. Depending on the severity of the sport injury you may need to seek medical advice. The following symptoms are signs that you have indeed injured yourself and medical treatment may be required: Swelling If there is immediate swelling with pain and/or numbness following a blow or fall or hard knock, this is an indication of injury. If there is swelling of an old injury after fall or collision, this could also indicate further injury. Pain If the pain is instant and does not subside within a few minutes or hours, of if it gets worse, this is indicative of a serious injury requiring medical treatment. Similarly if it is a limb or joint which is injured and you cannot put any weight on it or it feels unstable. Bruising Any signs of bruising on the skin following a blow or a fall can signify an underlying injury. If tissue damage is widespread, this can indicate a broken bone, dislocated joint, sprain or torn muscle. Reduced range of motion If your joint cannot move easily through its full range of motion, or there is pain in flexion or extension, this may point towards injury. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 6
Weakness, tingling/numbness Weakness in a joint or muscle and any tingling or numbness is the body s way of indicating there is a problem. If you experience all three symptoms together, seek medical attention immediately. Tenderness or stiffness If a joint or muscle is excessively tender or stiff following exercise this is a good indication there may be an underlying injury. Muscle spasms Muscle spasms are often due to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities due to overuse or exercise in extreme heat. Sometimes they can be eased with gentle stretching, but if they occur. 5. Treating sports injuries. Treatment for a sport injury depends on whether it is an acute or chronic injury. The one thing you should do however is immediately stop doing the exercise or sport which is the cause of your injury until you have received adequate treatment. If the sports injury is causing you severe pain, swelling, numbness, if you can t stand on it or put weight on it, and if there is any joint abnormality, then you need to seek treatment immediately. Otherwise home treatment, using the RICE method, should suffice until the symptoms subside. The RICE method involves: Rest: Keep the weight off the affected joint or limb, using a crutch or walking stick if necessary. Ice: Use an ice pack (frozen veg or a proper cold pack from the pharmacy) on the injured area for 20 minutes, several times a day. Don t exceed the 20 minute limit. Compression: Use a bandage or compression device to put an even of amount pressure on the injured area. This helps reduce swelling. UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 7
Elevation: Keep the injured area elevated above heart level to reduce swelling. Types of injury and treatment Cuts: First try stop the bleeding using a cold compress or bandage and apply pressure to the area until bleeding has ceased. Deeper cuts may need stitches. Head injuries : Any type of head injury should be taken seriously injury has occurred the head should be stabilised until a medical professional can assess further. Neck and spinal injuries: Injuries to the neck or spine must also be taken seriously and treated as emergency cases. The neck and spine should be stabilised immediately and the person must be kept very still. Rehabilitation Recovery and rehabilitation from sports injuries should be gradual and is intended to assist the injured body part to regain normal function again. Early rehabilitation includes getting the injured person moving again with gentle range-of-motion exercises and light stretching and strengthening exercises. Progression is the key principle and depending on the severity of the injury this can take up to a few months. The point is to avoid pain at all costs and not to return to your previous exercise or sport until full range of motion and strength is regained in the affected area. QUESTIONS FOR THE EXAM. 1. What does sport injury mean? 2. Which are the most common causes of sport injuries? 3. How many types of injuries in tendon know? 4. How be caused a fracture? 5. Which symptoms can be observed when an athlete has a sport injury? 6. Define the RICE method. 7. What is the key in injury s rehabilitation and why? UNIT 2. Sport injuries: Simptoms and tratment. Página 8