Sports Injury

By : Gan Quan Fu, BPT, PGS (Anatomy)Cert in Genomic and Precision Medicine, Cert in University Teaching

Learning Outcomes Understand the role of Sports

Physiotherapist Identify the risk factors of sports injury. Outline the strategies for prevention of

sports injury.

Contents Introduction to Sports Injuries Role of Sports Physiotherapist Nature of Sports Injury Risks factors in sports injuries Strategies in preventing sports injuries Principles in evaluating and treating sports

injury(esp. soft tissue injuries) Types of injuries(muscles, tendons and

ligaments)

What is Sports Injury???

Injuries that occur in athletic activities. They can result from acute trauma, or from overuse of a particular body part.

Role of Sports Physiotherapist Sports Physical Therapy is a specialized practice that

focuses on prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement of the physically-active individual.

They are also involve in Education of the athlete, coach, family members about the various preventative and management techniques previously discussed.

Besides that, they must also involve in research. This is because treatment and rehabilitation are constantly changing in response to our interpretation of the basic and clinical sciences. So, sports physical therapist is a part of a team that is researching and implementing research findings to assist the athletically active individual in his or her pursuits.

Role of Sports Physiotherapist Prevention

Includes those interventions that assist the athletically-active individual in preventing injuries. If an injury occurs, continuing their pursuits with minimal disruptions. Areas of this practice include pre-participation screening, equipment recommendations, and cardiovascular fitness programs designed to assist in a safe and unremarkable return to activity.

Evaluation Must be highly skilled in evaluation of active and chronic injuries. A

hallmark of this practice is the assessment of surgical and non-surgical neuromusculoskeletal injuries. Included in this is the functional assessment of the individual post-injury to assist in a safe return to activity.

Treatment & Rehabilitation Treatment and rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal injuries is at the

center of sports physical therapy practice. In a team approach with physicians, the sports physical therapist designs and implements programs for the management of these disorders in clients of all ages and physical abilities, including those with physical disabilities as well as elite athletes.

Role of Sports Physiotherapist Performance Enhancement

Assist athletically-active individuals to improve their performance in a variety of ways. The foundation of performance enhancement is provided by a thorough evaluation of the neuromusculoskeletal and the cardiovascular-pulmonary systems. The results of this evaluation are compiled to outline strengths and weaknesses in an individual's physical profile. This profile can then be matched to the individual's specific athletic activity. Areas of deficiency in flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and in the aerobic/anaerobic systems can be outlined in a specific training regime. Follow-up evaluations can determine further training program changes.

Nature of Sports Injury Certain amount of physical activity is considered an

important element in health promotion and public interest in health enhancing physical activities including sports is increasing.

Consequent upsurge in sporting activity and intensity of training has caused a corresponding increase in sports injuries.

Although many sports injuries are mild or moderate, treatment of injured athletes often requires special judgment and experience. Attending clinician should have not only special knowledge in

sports medicine but also familiar with the sport and its rules and demands.

Correct diagnosis, immediate treatment and effective rehabilitation programme are prerequisites for come-back to the sports arena.

Risk Factor Related to Development of Sports Injury

Intrinsic Factor(Makeup of an individual person)

Lower Extremity MalalignmentLeg Length DiscrepancyMuscle Weakness or ImbalanceDecreased FlexibilityJoint HyperlaxityFemale GenderYoung or Old AgeOverweight (Obesity)Predisposing DiseasePsychological Factors

Extrinsic Factor(All factors that affect externally on the

human body)

Training ErrorsExcessive Load on the BodyEnvironmental MalconditionsPoor Equipment (Worn shoes, Faulty rackets)Ineffective rules (violent play)

Examples of Intrinsic Factors1. Lower Extremity Malalignment

i. Femoral Neck Anteversionii. High or Low riding patellaiii. Genu Valgum or Varumiv. Tibia Varav. Pes Planus or Cavusvi. Hindfoot Varus or Valgusvii. Forefoot Varus or Valgusviii. Ankle hyperpronation or

hypopronation2. Leg Length Discrepancy3. Muscle Weakness or

Imbalance4. Decreased Flexibility

5. Joint Hyperlaxity6. Female Gender7. Young or Old Age8. Overweight (Obesity)9. Predisposing Disease10. Psychological Factors

i. Some studies shown athletes who are aggressive, tense, and compulsive have a higher risk of injury than their relaxed peers.

ii. Tension may make muscles and tendons tighter, increasing the risk that they will be harmed during workouts.

Examples of Extrinsic Factors1. Training Errors

i. High Intensity or Volumeii. Over distanceiii. Fast Progressioniv. Hill Workv. Fatiguevi. Non-optimal Technique

2. Excessive Load on the Body

i. Number of Repetitionsii. Type and speed of

movementiii. Surfaceiv. Footwear

3. Environmental Malconditions

i. Windii. Darkiii. Heat or Coldiv. Humidityv. Altitude

4. Poor Equipment i. Worn shoes, Faulty

rackets5. Ineffective rules

i. violent play

Prevention of Sports Injuries Despite advanced knowledge, modern technology and

improved skills in sports medicine, many patients fail to return. Therefore prevention of injuries should be the major goal for every health care professionals working in the field of sports medicine.

Most athletes want to lower chances of incurring an injury while participating in their favorite sport.

Injuries decrease the amount of time they can spend in leisure activities, lower their fitness, downgrade competitive performance, and can lead to long term health problems such as arthritis.

Sports scientists suggest that injury rates could be reduced by 25% if athletes took appropriate preventative action.

Prevention of Sports Injury Since many factors, extrinsic or intrinsic by

nature are involved, prevention of sports injury is a complex problem.

In acute sports injury, extrinsic factors play a major role, while in overuse injuries the reasons are more multifactorial and interaction between these 2 categories is common.

In general terms, sports injury prevention refers to all efforts to prevent injuries occurring in connection with sports and physical activity. These efforts can be done at individual (primary

prevention), group (secondary prevention) or society (tertiary prevention) level.

Primary Prevention Direct or indirect sports injury prevention at individual level. Examples:

Precompetition Examination Warming up before competition & Cooling down after performance. Mobility and Flexibility training Coordination and proprioceptive training Sports-specific training Correction of alignment abnormalities in lower limb by foot

orthotics Avoiding too fast a progression in training frequency and intensity Use of appropriate equipment for example properly fit protective

equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear.

Use of proper technique

Secondary Prevention Sports injury prevention at group level Can be done by providing group information

and education for example: Lectures to athletes and coaches about:

Importance of proper warm-up and cooling down. Careful following of the rules (fair play). Known risk factors of injuries .

Providing leaflets and information to athletes and coaches about: Types of warm ups to be done. Risk factors of injuries.

Tertiary Prevention Sports injury prevention at society level. Normally it took a long time and its

consequences will not be seen until many years after strategies was planned and put into effect.

Example: Passing legislation to ban all hits to head in

combat sports such as boxing, karate and taekwondo.

Take Home Message

Play safe Strict to rules and follow.

Stop the activity If there is pain.

Summary

Risk Factor Related to Development of Sports Injury

Intrinsic Factor(Makeup of an individual

person)

Lower Extremity MalalignmentLeg Length Discrepancy

Muscle Weakness or ImbalanceDecreased Flexibility

Joint HyperlaxityFemale Gender

Young or Old AgeOverweight (Obesity)Predisposing DiseasePsychological Factors

Extrinsic Factor(All factors that affect

externally on the human body)

Training ErrorsExcessive Load on the BodyEnvironmental Malconditions

Poor Equipment (Worn shoes, Faulty rackets)

Ineffective rules (violent play)

Thank You