Introduction to Sports Injuries

General Definitions

• Acute injuries – Happen at one specific instant• Chronic injuries – Happen due to prolonged

abuse or inbalances• All injuries occur due to:– Direct Blows, Torsions or Shearings

• Soft Tissue – skin, organs, tendons, ligaments• Hard Tissues - bone

Acute Injuries

• Sudden that usually are accompanied by swelling• Strains– Muscle or tendon is stretched to the point where the

fibres start to tear– Prevention through warmup and stretching

• Sprains– Ligament and joint capsule damage caused by

twisting motions that muscles can’t control– Prevention through flexibility and stable joints

• Ex – unhappy triad, ankle inversion, dislocations

Grades of Acute Injuries

• Strains– 1 – slight stretch of the muscles/tendons– 2 – partial tear– 3 – complete tear

• Sprains– 1 – stretch of ligaments– 2 – stretched to partial tear– 3 – Complete tear

Chronic Injuries

• Overuse or stress injuries that develop gradually

• Result of repetitive activities (running, tennis)• Muscle tissue gradually develops microscopic

tears that cause pain, swelling and tenderness• Prevention through stretching and

strengthening routines• Ex – tennis elbow, shin splints, tendonitis

Musculoskeletal Healing Process

Stage 1 – The Inflammatory Phase• 3 – 4 days• Recognized by swelling, heat, altered function

• R – Rest – 2-3 days with immobilization• I – Ice – Reduces pain and spasm, minimizes cell

death and causes vasoconstriction• C – Compression – Decreases swelling by slowing

the flow of fluid to the area• E – Elevation – Decreases swelling by encouraging

blood to return to the heart and not pool

Stage 2 – The Regeneration Phase

• 48 hours + after the injury to weeks depending on the injury severity

• Tissue replacement• Attempt to regain function

Stage 3 – The Remodelling Phase

• Weeks to a year• Place sport specific forces on the area to

increase strength• Stress without distress• Will need to progress as the injury recovers

and strength and stability come back

Prevention of Sports Injuries• Warm Up• Cool Down• Hydration• Proper Technique• Equipment• Physical Conditioning• Facilities Management• Balanced Opponents• Rules and Enforcement• Common Sense

Benefits of Taping

• Can be used in prevention and to aid after an injury

• Increases stability of a joint• Can take pressure or stress off of a body part• Increases the confidence in an athletes

abilities• New stretchy tape is being used to help in

taping to keep stability and aid movement

Benefits of Massage• Can be used as a recovery method as well• Increases blood flow to certain areas• Can be used to lengthen soft tissue• Can be used to flush metabolites from exercise

from an area• Can vary in strength (flush, athletic/active, deep)• Can be used with other techniques (ART – active

release therapy etc)• Can be used to put compounds into the

skin/muscle

Hip Joint Groin Injuries Basics

• Usually put together as the pain can radiate from one to the other

• Causes– Hip – usually articular cartilage damage– Groin – usually due to overloading muscles or

tendons

Adductor Longus Muscle

• Commonly injured in soccer, track, hockey, skiing

• Symptoms– Pain on adduction– Pain is from the origin and may radiate towards

the groin– Pain can decrease after initial exertion

Ilio-Psoas Muscle

• Commonly injured in weight lifting, rowing, running uphill, jumping and hurdling

• Symptoms – Inflammation of the bursa and tendon beneath

the muscle– Tenderness at the insertion of the tendon– Pain in the groin may also occur on hip flexing

Rectus Femoris Muscle

• Commonly injured in kicking actions and fast starts in running

• Symptoms– Pain just above the hip joint– Pain during and after activity– Pain on flexing of the hip joint or extension of the

knee joint

Other Abdominal Muscles

• Commonly injured in weightlifting, throwing, gymnastics and wrestling

• Symptoms– Inflammation is caused by exertion and a stabbing

pain in the abdominal area– Pain is more pronounced when the muscle is

contracted

Common Injuries to Know• The Unhappy Triad (torn ACL, MCL, Meniscus)• Stress Fractures• Glenohumeral Dislocation• Shin Splints• Concussions• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis• Ankle Sprains• Achilles Tendonitis• Acromioclavicular Dislocation• Tennis Elbow

• Split into 10 groups of 2-3 and each group choose one. Send a 1-2 PPT slides to Mr Wardle by Monday of your injury