Created by: Sean Keane

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 Back to Most Common Injuries

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 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 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 -H-Helps the surrounding area absorb the blow -H-Helps reduce workload by limiting movement -H-Helps add mass to injured area Reduces the risk of deformation or displacement -P-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