Sport Injuries Types of Injury Fractures Occur as

Sport Injuries Types of Injury Fractures – Occur as a result of extreme stress placed on bones. - Different types of fractures can occur based on the kind of stress (ie. Compression, bending, twisting, shear…) Management: RICE and immobilization. Healing most often requires immobilization in a cast, or soft splint. However, smaller bones cannot be cast and may require splint.

Sport Injuries Stress Fracture - Result from overuse rather than trauma. - Repetitive forces transmitted through the bones produce irritations at specific spots on the bone (marathon runners). - Pain starts as a dull ache but progresses each day. - Management: RICE. Recommended to stop activity for at least 14 days. Can become fractures in time.

Sport Injuries Dislocations - Occurs when one bone in a joint is forced out of its normal alignment (ie. shoulder). - Often results in rupture of surrounding tissue. - Joint is vulnerable to more dislocation. - Dislocations should never be immediately reduced, need to rule out fracture possibility - Management: RICE. Reduced by physician only! Before taken to physician, injury should be splinted.

Sport Injuries Sprains - Injury to a ligament. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Grade 1 Sprain - Some stretching of ligaments occurs - Expect mild to moderate pain, localized swelling, joint stiffness

Sport Injuries Grade 2 Sprain - Some tearing and separation of the ligament - Moderate joint instability - Moderate to severe pain, general swelling Grade 3 Sprain - Total tearing of ligament, major joint instability - Usually need exceptional load - Severe pain may be followed by no pain - Swelling may be great, joint becomes very stiff, may require surgery

- Initial management of sprains: RICE -Weight-bearing activity as soon as can be endured -Heat can be applied after initial 48 hrs. of RICE to relax tight ligaments

Sport Injuries Contusions - An external blow causes soft tissue to be compressed against hard bone underneath - Capillaries are torn, which allows bleeding into tissues causing blue-purple discoloration - Calcium deposits may result with repeated trauma Management: RICE and protect this injury

Sports Injuries Concussion (Brain Contusion) - An external blow to the head which causes an injury to the brain - A mild concussion may involve no loss of consciousness (being "dazed") or a very brief loss of consciousness (being "knocked out"). - A severe concussion may involve prolonged loss of consciousness with a delayed return to normal.

Sports Injuries Management: - Apply ice to area of impact and limit athlete movement - Have athlete seek medical treatment - No activity until asymptomatic - Return to activity follows concussion protocol. Risks: - Post-concussion Syndrome: experience of headache, nausea, or difficulty concentrating for weeks after injury - Second Impact Syndrome: repeated concussions (especially in quick succession) can result in fatal brain swelling

Sport Injuries Strains - Tearing of the muscle fiber - Occur when a muscle is overstretched or forced to contract against too much resistance Grade 1 Strain - Some muscle fibers stretched or torn - Movement is painful but full range is possible

Sport Injuries Grade 2 Strain - A number of muscle fibers have been torn - Movement is extremely painful - Swelling and discoloration may occur Grade 3 Strain - Complete rupture of the muscle - May be total loss of movement - Pain is intense then subsides due to nerve damage

-Hamstring is most common strain (rapid contraction in stretched position). Often due to muscle imbalance. Management: RICE. Heat and ultrasound may be used for long term rehabilitation. Rehab is longer than sprain because complete muscle rest is required.

Sport Injuries Muscle Spasms (Cramps) - Involuntary contraction of the muscle (ie. Gastrocnemius) - Pain and tightness associated - May be result of dehydration, loss of electrolytes, or muscle fatigue - Can last seconds or a number of minutes. - Muscle should be manually stretched and massaged to help relax the muscle. Hold the muscle in stretched position until the spasm eventually stops. - Chronic spasms (ie. Lower back) should be treated with RICE and a good stretching program. Heat / muscle relaxants provides temporary relief.

Sport Injuries Muscle Soreness - Overexertion in strenuous muscular exercise results in muscular pain - Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs 12 -48 hrs. after exercise - Muscular pain, stiffness, and resistance to stretching is present - Preventable by gradually increasing exercise from moderate to intense over time

Sport Injuries Management: RICE and PNF stretching