Created by: Sean Keane

Sports Injuries and How

Athletes Can Treat and

Prevent Them

How To Know When An Injury Needs Medical Assistance

Deformities in the bone or joint

Weight can not be put on the area of injury at all

Excessive Swelling

Skin changes color

Healing process does not help after a few days

The Most Common

Sports Injuries

Sprains and Strains

Knee Injuries

Shin Splints

Fractures

Dislocations

Concussions

Sprains and Strains

Sprain: stretched or torn ligament

• Ligaments: tissues that connect bones at a joint

Symptoms:

• Pain, swelling, bruising at injured area

• Could hear a pop or tear at time of injury

Back to Most Common Injuries

Sprains and Strains

Strain: stretched or torn muscle or tendon

• Tendon: tissues that connect muscle to bone

Symptoms:

• Pain• Muscle Spasms• Swelling and

Trouble Moving the Muscle

Knee Injuries

Most common knee injury: “Runner’s Knee”

Overuse causes a lot of pain around the knee cap area

Can result from:

• Overuse• Direct trauma to knee• Misalignment of body

weight• Weak thigh muscles

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More Severe Knee Injuries

Arthritis: Cartilage in knee gradually wears

away

Examples:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is hurt a lot in sports due

to the amount of sudden twisting motions involved

Shin Splints

Caused by trauma to the muscles or bones of the lower legs

Constant bone trauma can cause small cracks and fractures in tibia and fibula

Muscles in lower legs swell and puts pressure on fascia

• Fascia: covers muscles in lower leg

• Causes extreme pressure and pain

Back to Most Common Injuries

Treatment: The RICE Principle

Prevention of these injuries are usually treated best with this process:

R est• avoid activities that put pressure on injured area

I ce• apply to injured area for about 15 minutes every few hours

during the first 24 to 48 hours

C ompression • wrap bandage around injured area firmly

E levation • raise injured area above heart level for first 48 hours

Fractures

Fracture: a break in the bone

If the bone punctures the skin, it is an open or compound fracture

Symptoms:

• Limb or joint out of place• Numbness and tingling• Intense pain • Limited mobility or not able to move limb• Swelling, bruising, bleeding

Back to Most Common Injuries

Treatment: Fractures

1. Support the limb

• Do not move the injured person• Secure and support injured part with blankets, cushions, clothes,

etc.

2. Get the injured person to hospital

• Arm injuries: take person there yourself • Broken leg or spine/neck injury: call 911

3. If needed, treat for shock

• If in shock lie person down and raise legs above heart level • Keep person warm

Dislocations

Joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position

You can dislocate:

• ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, and finger and toe joints

Shoulder or knee dislocations are more likely to do so again

Back to Most Common Injuries

Treatment: Dislocations

Treatment depends on area of dislocation and severity of injury

Some forms of treatment:

• Manipulations to reposition the bone• Medicine

• Create splint or sling for the injured area• Rehabilitation after dislocation is treated

Within a few weeks, joint should be functional again

Concussions

Result from the head striking an object or vise versa

Causes the brain to move violently within skull

Can produce unconsciousness if hit hard enough

If not treated properly, can lead to long term effects:

• Memory Disturbance

• Sleep Disturbance• Chronic

headaches• Depression

Back to Most Common Injuries

Symptoms of a Concussion

• Blurred vision

• Unequal size pupils

• Headache and dizziness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loss of short-term memory (or moment of injury)

• Repeating the same statements

Treatment: Concussions

Examine for any symptoms to determine severity of concussion

Use ice to compress against exact injured area

• Wrap ice in a washcloth to use as a barrier• Apply 20-30 minutes at a time and repeat 2-4 hours

Must see neurologist to examine for any post-concussion symptoms

Preventing Sports Injuries

• Stretching Before Physical Activity

• Wear Protective Equipment

• Avoid Overuse

• Use strapping and taping

Stretching

Should be done in a relaxing, slow, and gentle manner

Never stretch in a jerky manner or a bouncy movement

Stretch to the feeling of tension or discomfort

Slowly breathe in a rhythmic fashion

Stretching

Benefits of Stretching

Lengthens the muscles and tendons

Muscles become more flexible

The muscle joints and connective tissues become more lubricated because of more blood and oxygen being brought to the muscles

Protective Equipment

- Helps the surrounding area absorb the blow

- Helps reduce workload by limiting movement

- Helps add mass to injured area• Reduces the risk of deformation or

displacement

- Prevents the absorption of bacteria, fungus, and viruses

Avoiding Overuse

• Correct or improve your workout techniques

• Alternate running surfaces from hard to grassier types

• Change sports shoes yearly

• Do not return to sport until fully recovered

• Eat energy foods and avoid working out on an empty stomach

Strapping and Taping

• Helps give support and compression to tender areas

• Limits movement and provides reinforcement

• Some bandages help reduce swelling for certain injuries

Information provided by:

commonsportsinjuries.com

webmd.com

sportsmedicine.about.com

nlm.nih.gov

emedicinehealth.com

redcross.org.uk