1. Evaluation & Assessment
Mechanical Forces &
Muscle Injuries
Evaluation & Assessment

2. Objectives Identify types of FORCES and their effect on the body.
Relate the demands of exercise to injury.

3. Introduction
To correctly evaluate an injury is to understand how the injury occurred
AKA: Mechanism of Injury
An injury sustained in a car crash would involve significantly more force than one sustained while descending the stairs.
The extent of an injury to a muscle depends on the amount of force applied.

4. Question What was the cause of the injury? How severe was the injury?
Think of a muscle injury that you have had in the past.
What was the cause of the injury?
How severe was the injury?

5. Mechanical Force
Can we define “FORCE”
What do we mean by “Mechanical Force?”
something exerted on the body that can change its shape or motion (cause injury)
There are 3 types of Mechanical Forces that cause injury

6. Mechanical Force Compression A force that crushes the tissue
Result - contusion.

7. Mechanical Force Tension
A force that stretches or pulls a tissue apart.
Result Strain Sprain

8. Mechanical Force Shearing A force that moves across the parallel plane
Result Sprain
Strain

9. Identify the force
On the following slides, read the injury mechanism described & identify the type of force that would produce an injury.
Compression
Tension
Shearing

10. A collision occurs as a defensive lineman tackles a running back
A collision occurs as a defensive lineman tackles a running back. The lineman’s helmet hit the running back’s forearm as he is brought to the ground.
Compression

11. A wide receiver is hit over the lateral aspect of his knee & driven out of bounds by a defensive back. He complains of pain over the medial aspect of his knee.
Shearing

12. A baseball player takes his lead-off from first and attempts to get back to the base when the pitcher throws over. He complains of pain in his right groin area from overstretching.
Tension

13. A sprinter over strides coming out of the starting block
A sprinter over strides coming out of the starting block. She stops and slowly walks off of the track to the infield complaining of pain & tightness in her hamstrings.
Tension

14. A batter is hit in the low back as she turns away from an inside pitch…
Compression

15. A volleyball player attempts to spike a ball but misses badly
A volleyball player attempts to spike a ball but misses badly. She swings awkwardly & then complains of pain in her hitting shoulder.
Tension

16. Muscle Injuries
What type of injuries can happen to the muscle?

17. Muscle Cramp An involuntary muscle contraction
Resulting in pain & inability to move.
Caused by:
Dehydration
Lack of electrolytes (minerals).

18. Muscle Spasm
An involuntary muscle contraction, resulting in pain & inability to move.
Occurs as a result of trauma.

19. Acute Onset Muscle Soreness
Muscle soreness during or shortly after physical activity.
Caused by a build up of lactic acid.
Resolves quickly.

20. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Muscle soreness which occurs 2 to 3 days after exertion.
Caused by small tears in muscle fibers as a result of weightlifting or eccentric exercise.
Resolves in 5 – 7 days.

21. Muscle Contusion
An injury caused by an impact to the muscle which results in discoloration due to a disruption of circulation to the area.

22. Tendinitis
Inflammation of a tendon.

23. Strain A stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon.
Results in a 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree injury.

24. First Degree Strain Mild stretching of one or more muscles or tendons
Results in
Pain
Mild swelling
Minor loss of function.

25. Second Degree Strain A moderate tearing of muscle or tendon tissue
Results in
Pain
moderate swelling
ROM
moderate loss of
function.

26. A complete tearing of muscle or tendon tissue
Third Degree Strain
A complete tearing of muscle or tendon tissue
Results in
either severe or no pain
or ROM
moderate to severe swelling
obvious deformity.

27. Closure Get out a sheet of paper… Explain in your own words:
Give examples of
A shearing injury
A tension injury
A compression injury
Explain in your own words:
1st degree
2nd degree
3rd degree injuries
Put your name on it and turn in.