SPORT INJURIES

1.0

Introduction

Sports injuries are commonly caused by overuse, direct impact, or the

application of force that is greater than the body part can structurally
withstand. There are two kinds of sports injuries which are acute and chronic.
An injury that occurs suddenly, such as a sprained ankle caused by an
awkward landing, is known as an acute injury. While chronic injuries are
caused by repeated overuse of muscle groups or joints.
The example of the more common sports injuries are ankle sprain,
bruises, concussion, cuts and abrasions, dehydration, dental damage, groin
strain, hamstring strain, and nose injuries.

Ankle sprain is the symptoms

include pain, swelling and stiffness. Bruises are a blow can cause small
bleeds into the skin. Concussion is a mild reversible brain injury from a blow
to the head, which may be associated with loss of consciousness. The
symptoms are including headache, dizziness and short term memory loss.
Cuts and abrasions are usually caused by falls. The knees and hands are
particularly prone. Dehydration are losing too much fluid can lead to heat
exhaustion and heat stroke. Dental damage is a blow to the jaw can crack,
break or dislodge teeth. Groin strain symptoms are including pain and
swelling. Hamstring strain symptoms are including pain, swelling and
bruising. Nose injuries are either blood nose or broken nose, are caused by a
direct blow.
You can reduce your risk of sports injuries if you

Warm up thoroughly by gently going through the motions of your sport

and performing slow, sustained stretches.

Wear appropriate footwear.
Use the appropriate safety equipment, such as mouth guards, helmets

and pads.
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after the game.
Use good form and technique.
Cool down after sport with gentle, sustained stretches.
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2.0

9
Allow adequate recovery time between
sessions.

Definition of Sport Injuries

The term sports injury, defines to the kinds of injuries that most

commonly occur during sports or exercise. Some sports injuries result from
accidents and others are due to poor training practices, improper equipment,
lack of conditioning, or insufficient warm-up and stretching.
Although any part of your body can be injured during sports or
exercise, the term is typically reserved for injuries that involve the
musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, bones, and associated
tissues like cartilage. Following are some of the most common sports injuries.
3.0

Classification of Sport Injuries

Classificati
on

Acute

Chronic

1. Acute Injuries
Acute injuries, such as a sprained ankle, strained back, or
fractured hand, occur suddenly during activity. Signs of an acute injury
include the following:

severe pain
swelling
inability to place weight on a lower limb
extreme tenderness in an upper limb
inability to move a joint through its full range of motion
extreme limb weakness
visible dislocation or break of a bone

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SPORT INJURIES

2. Chronic Injuries

Chronic injuries usually result from overusing one area of the

body while playing a sport or exercising over a long period. The
following are signs of a chronic injury:
pain when performing an activity
a dull ache when at rest
swelling
4.0

Types of Sport Injuries

1. Sprains and Strains

As

pr

ain is

stretch
tear

or

of

ligament,
connective

a
the

band
tissues

of
that

joins the end of one bone with another. Sprains are caused by trauma such
as a fall or blow to the body that knocks a joint out of position and, in the
worst case, ruptures the supporting ligaments. Sprains can range from first
degree (minimally stretched ligament) to third degree (a complete tear).
Areas of the body most vulnerable to sprains are ankles, knees, and wrists.
Signs of a sprain include varying degrees of tenderness or pain; bruising;
inflammation; swelling; inability to move a limb or joint; or joint looseness,
laxity, or instability.
A strain is a twist, pull, or tear of a muscle or tendon, a cord of
tissue connecting muscle to bone. It is an acute, noncontact injury that
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results from overstretching or over
contraction. Symptoms of a strain

include pain, muscle spasm, and loss of strength. Although its hard to
tell the difference between mild and moderate strains, severe strains
not treated professionally can cause damage and loss of function.
2. Knee Injuries
Because of its complex structure and weightbearing

capacity, the knee is a commonly

injured joint.
Knee injuries can range from mild to severe.
Some of the less severe, yet still
painful and functionally limiting, knee
problems are runners knee (pain or
tenderness close to or under the knee

cap at the

front or side of the knee), iliotibial band

syndrome

(pain on the outer side of the knee), and

tendinitis,

also called tendinosis (marked by degeneration

within a tendon, usually where it joins the bone).

More severe injuries include bone bruises or damage to the cartilage or
ligaments. There are two types of cartilage in the knee. One is the
meniscus, a crescent-shaped disc that absorbs shock between the thigh
(femur) and lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). The other is a surfacecoating (or articular) cartilage. It covers the ends of the bones where they
meet, allowing them to glide against one another. The four major
ligaments that support the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL),
the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament
(MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
3. Compartment Syndrome
In many parts of the body, muscles (along with the nerves and blood
vessels that run alongside and through them) are enclosed in a
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compartment formed of a tough
membrane called fascia. When

muscles become swollen, they can fill the compartment to capacity,

causing interference with nerves and blood vessels as well as damage
to the muscles themselves. The resulting painful condition is referred
to as compartment syndrome.
Compartment syndrome may be caused by a one-time traumatic
injury

(acute

compartment
syndrome), such as a
fractured

bone

or

hard blow to the thigh,

by repeated hard blows
(depending

upon

the

sport),

or by ongoing overuse
(chronic

exertional

compartment syndrome),

which

may

occur, for example, in long-distance running.

4. Shin Splints
Although the term shin splints has been widely used to
describe any sort of leg pain associated with exercise, the term
actually refers to pain along the tibia or shin bone, the large bone in
the front of the lower leg. This pain can occur at the front outside part
of the lower leg, including the foot and ankle (anterior shin splints) or
at the inner edge of the bone where it meets the calf muscles (medial
shin splints).
Shin splints are primarily seen in runners, particularly those just
starting a running program. Risk factors for shin splints include overuse
or incorrect use of the lower leg; improper stretching, warm-up, or
exercise technique; overtraining; running or jumping on hard surfaces;
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and running in shoes that dont9 have enough support. These injuries
are often associated with flat (overpronated) feet.

5. Achilles Tendon Injuries

An Achilles tendon injury results from a stretch, tear,
or

irritation to the tendon connecting the calf muscle

to the back of the heel. These injuries
can be so sudden and agonizing that they
have been known to bring down charging
professional

football

players

in

shocking fashion.
The most common cause of
Achilles tendon tears is a problem
called

tendinitis,

degenerative

condition caused by aging or overuse.

When a tendon is weakened, trauma can cause it to rupture.
Achilles tendon injuries are common in middle-aged weekend
warriors who may not exercise regularly or take time to stretch properly
before an activity. Among professional athletes, most Achilles injuries
seem to occur in quick-acceleration, jumping sports like football and
basketball, and almost always end the seasons competition for the
athlete.
6. Fractures

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A fracture is a break
in the bone that can
occur from either a
quick, one-time injury
to the bone (acute
fracture)

or

from

repeated

stress

to

the bone over time

(stress fracture).
Acute
fractures: Acute fractures can be simple (a clean break with little damage
to the surrounding tissue) or compound (a break in which the bone
pierces the skin with little damage to the surrounding tissue). Most acute
fractures are emergencies. One that breaks the skin is especially
dangerous because there is a high risk of infection.
Stress fractures: Stress fractures occur largely in the feet and legs
and are common in sports that require repetitive impact, primarily
running/jumping sports such as gymnastics or track and field. Running
creates forces two to three times a persons body weight on the lower
limbs. The most common symptom of a stress fracture is pain at the site
that worsens with weight-bearing activity. Tenderness and swelling often
accompany the pain.
7. Dislocations

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When the two bones that

come together to form a joint
become separated, the joint is
described as being dislocated.
Contact sports such as football
and basketball, as well as highimpact sports and sports that can
result in excessive stretching or
falling,

cause

the

majority

of

dislocations. A dislocated joint is an emergency situation that requires

medical treatment.
8. The Shoulder Joint
The joints most likely to be dislocated
are some of the hand joints. Aside from
these joints, the joint most frequently
dislocated is the shoulder. Dislocations
of the knees, hips, and elbows are
uncommon.

5.0

Symptoms of Sport Injuries

Most sports injuries that need attention have some common warning signs
and symptoms. Acute sports injuries are often obvious, and occur in a
dramatic

fashion,

but

other

injuries

can

creep

up

slowly

and

get

progressively worse. These often turn into nagging chronic aches and pains.
If you pay attention to the warnings signs and symptoms of both types of
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9 avoid serious damage or a long-term
injuries, you can often heal quicker and

problem.
PART OF INJURIES: HEAD/BRAIN
Symptoms of a brain injury include:

Unconsciousness

Inability to
remember the
cause of the injury
or events that
occurred
Immediately
before or up to 24
hours after

Confusion and
disorientation

Difficulty
remembering new
information

Headache

Dizziness

Blurry vision

Nausea and
vomiting

Ringing in the ears

Trouble speaking
coherently

Changes in
emotions or sleep
patterns

The severity of symptoms depends on whether the injury is mild, moderate

or severe.

Mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, either

doesn't knock you out or knocks you out for 30 minutes or less.
Symptoms often appear at the time of the injury or soon after, but
sometimes may not develop for days or weeks. Mild traumatic brain
injury symptoms are usually temporary and clear up within hours, days
or weeks, but they can last months or longer.

Moderate traumatic brain injury causes unconsciousness lasting

more than 30 minutes. Symptoms of moderate traumatic brain injury
are similar to those of mild traumatic brain injury but more serious and
longer-lasting.
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9 knocks you out for more than 24

Severe traumatic brain injury

hours. Symptoms of severe traumatic brain injury are also similar to

those of mild traumatic brain injury but more serious and longerlasting.

PART OF INJURIES: BODY

Symptoms of body injuries include:

Joint Pain
Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist,
should never be ignored. Because these joints are not covered by muscle,
pain here is rarely of muscular origin. Joint pain that lasts more than 48
hours requires a physician's diagnosis.

Tenderness at a Specific Point

If you can elicit pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or joint, by
pressing your finger into it, you may have a significant injury. If the same
spot on the other side of the body does not produce the same pain, you
should probably see a physician.

Swelling
nearly all sports injuries cause swelling. Swelling is usually
quite obvious and can be seen, but occasionally you may just
feel as though something is swollen even though it looks
normal. Swelling usual goes hand-in-hand with pain,
redness and heat. Swelling within a joint often causes pain, stiffness, and
may produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap over one another after
having been pushed into a new position from the swelling.

Reduced Range of Motion

If swelling isn't obvious, you can usually find it by checking for a reduced
range of motion in a joint. If there is significant swelling within a joint, you
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9 will only go so far in each direction.
will lose range of motion -- the limb

Again, compare one side of the body with the other to identify major
differences; if there are any, you likely have an injury that needs
attention.

Comparative Weakness
Comparing one side to the other for weakness is often hard to do, but can
be helpful when assessing an injury. One way to tell is to lift the same
weight with the right and left side and look at the result. Or try to place
body weight on one leg and then the other. A difference in your ability to
support your weight is another tip-off to an injury that requires attention.

Numbness and Tingling

Never ignore numbness or tingling. Such sensations are often related to
nerve compression, and these warning signs may indicate serious injury
that should always be seen by a physician.

6.0

Emergency Treatments of Sport Injuries

The primary goal of sports injury first aid is to stop activity and prevent

further injury or damage. The most sports injuries treatment methods that
are RICE, RIPM, DRABC and TOTAPS.
RICE Method
The majority acute of acute sports injuries will be treated by using the
RICE method. The RICE methods include Rest, Ice, Compression and
Elevation. Injuries such as muscle sprains, strains, tears and fractures may
all be treated according to these methods.
An acute injury is an injury that occurred recently as a result of a
traumatic event. The first treatment for most acute soft tissue injuries is to
prevent, stop and reduce swelling. The examples of soft tissue injuries are
bruises, strains, springs and tears. When soft tissue is damaged, it swells or
possibly bleeds internally.
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Rest
- The affected area should be rested in order to prevent further
damage and to allow the tissues time to
heal.
Ice
Applying ice packs to an acute injury
reduces swelling and pain. Applying ice
will causes the blood vessels to narrow
and limits internal bleeding at the
injury site. Apply ice to the affected area
every two hours for no more than 20
minutes at a time.
Compression
- The area

around

the

injury

should

be

using a bandage or support. This will protect

compressed
the

injured

area and reduce swelling.

Elevation
The affected limb or joint should be elevated to decrease blood flow
to the area, which will prevent inflammation.

RIPM

Method
Overuse injuries are commonly treated by RIPM methods. The RIPM

methods are rest, ice, physical therapy and medicine. Injuries such as shin

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splints, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow,
runners knee and jumpers knee

can be treated using these methods.

Overuse injuries are more common in sports than acute injuries.
Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive actions, which damage tendons,
ligaments, muscles and soft tissue over a period of time. They are subtle and
usually occur over time, making them challenging to diagnose and treat. The
examples of overuse injuries are tennis elbow, runners knee, jumpers knee,
Achilles tendinitis and shin splints.
Rest
- The athlete need to take time off from the activity that caused by
overuse injury.
Ice
- Put ice packs on the injured area for 20 minutes on, then 20
minutes off. The athlete may use the ice as many times per day as
you want. But do not leave the ice on for longer than 30 minutes.
Do not put ice directly on the skin.
Physical therapy
- Your healthcare provider may send you to a physical therapist.
Often you will do some gentle stretching and some strengthening
exercises. You may also have ultrasound treatments that provide
deep heat to injured tissues and help them heal faster.
Medicine
- Take an anti-inflammatory medicine to help with

pain

and

inflammation. But, adults aged 65 years

and older should not take non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medicine for more
than

seven

days

without

their

healthcare providers approval.

DRABC Method

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SPORT INJURIES
9 Aid routine that has been taught for
DRABC method is a standard First

use in cases of serious injury, especially when the casualty is unconscious.

DRABC stand for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
Danger
- Observe the immediate area and check for possible risk to the
injured person, yourself or anyone else.
Response
- Ask the injured person to respond to you. If the casualty is
conscious and able to talk it may be possible to ask about the
situation. In that case the remaining ABC would not be necessary. If
not have any response, call ambulance.
Airway
- If a casualty does not respond and so appears to be unconscious,
check if his or her airway is clear. Check that the
persons head is in a suitable position to
allow breathing.
Breathing
Check if the casualty is breathing. If the
casualty is not breathing even though his/her
airway is clear, you must do CPR. Five
breaths in ten seconds.

Circulation
Check if blood is circulating around the body by
looking for a pulse. One good place to check for a pulse is at the
carotid artery in the neck. If no pulse, do commence cardiac
massage. Fifteen compressions each ten seconds, then two breathe
in five seconds.

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TOTAPS Method
The TOTAPS stand for Talk, Observe, Touch, Active movement, Passive
movement and Skill test. The TOTAPS procedure is the most effective way to
assess an injury. The TOTAPS procedure provides information about the
extent of the injury and whether the athlete should continue with activity or
seek medical attention.
Talk
- Talk to the injured person to determine what happened, where it
hurts and what kind of pain it is.
Observe
- Observe the injured person and any irregularities in limbs and the
suspected injured area. Then compares with the opposite side.
Touch
- Touch the suspected injured area to determine severity of the injury.
Active movement
- Ask the injured person to move the injured part without assistance.
Passive movement
- If the injured person is able to move the injured part, attempt to
move the injured area through a full range of motion.
Skill test
- If none of the above procedures has resulted in pain, the injured
person should stand and show they have the ability to perform the

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games skill. If an injury is identified,
the injured person should be

removed from the activity and treated.

7.0

Conclusion
As a conclusion, people should be aware of strains and sprains during

physical activities. Remember to always treat with proper care and be aware
of how it can be happen to anyone.
The treatment of sports injuries are depends on the type and severity
of the injury. We must see our doctor if pain persists after a couple of days.
What we think is a straightforward sprain may actually be a fractured bone.
Through physiotherapy also can help to rehabilitate the injured site
and, depending on the injury. We may include exercises to promote strength
and flexibility. Returning to sport after injury depends on our doctors or
physiotherapists assessment. Trying to play before the injury is properly
healed will only cause further damage and delay recovery.
The biggest single risk factor for soft tissue injury is a previous injury.
In the meantime, you can maintain your fitness by choosing forms of
exercise that dont involve your injury. For example, ride a stationary bicycle
while your sprained wrist is healing.

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8.0

References

Internet

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/treatinginjuries/a/Injury_FirstAid.ht

m
http://www.nsmi.org.uk/articles/sports-injury-treatment/immediate-

treatment.html
http://www.nsmi.org.uk/articles/overuse-injuries.html
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http://rdfteam.com/how-to-recover-from-an-injury-when-training-for-an-

upcoming-rundisney-race/
http://www.prohealthphysio.co.nz/files/171_20130725150129-

1374721289.pdf
http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/Sports/Injuries/DRABC-Procedure.php

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