1. Lesson Five: Introduction to Injury Prevention
Unit One: Tissue Response to Injury

2. Tell me what you know…
Think of an injury you have witnessed. On a sheet of paper describe the injury and answer the following questions…
How did the injury occur?
What do you think caused the injury?
Could the injury have been prevented?

3. By the end of this lesson…
Define Terms:
Sport Injuries, Injury Prevention & Injury Mechanism,
List ways to prevent injury

4. Definitions
Sport Injuries: Result from acute trauma or repetitive stress associated with athletic injuries.
They can effect bones or soft tissues
Injury Prevention: Action taken to prevent injuries resulting from activity.
Injury Mechanism: Specific cause of injury

5. How can we prevent? How can we keep the athlete’s from getting hurt?
If you were an athletic trainer, what methods would YOU use to decrease the number of injuries?

6. Ways to Prevent Injuries
Physical Conditioning
Weight lifting
Running drills
Sport Specific exercises

7. Ways to prevent… Appropriate Training Methods Improper Technique =
INJURY!!!
Create series of SPECIFIC repetitive & progressive exercises
EX: Leg Press for football lineman…3 sets, 10 reps, high weight

8. Ways to prevent… Rest and Recovery
Without recovery, over-use injuries occur
Athlete must get proper amount of rest
This includes sleep, breaks between workouts, days off practice, etc.

9. What sports would have to use regulated equipment?
Ways to prevent…
Appropriate Equipment
NOCSAE certified equipment
(National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment)
Helmets: Football, baseball, softball, etc..
Football shoulder pads, girdle, thigh pads…
Properly fitted shoes
What sports would have to use regulated equipment?

10. Ways to prevent… Psychological Effects
There is a positive relationship between negative stress and injury
Injured athletes have to re-train mentally to return to sport
You must “sell” prevention to your athlete, & after injury you must “sell” that their sport is safe!

11. Ways to Prevent… Training in extreme weather conditions
Temperature  hot or cold
High Humidity  dehydration through sweat
Altitude  Oxygen uptake reduced
Jet Lag  alteration to circadian rhythm
Need to provide ample time to adjust otherwise athlete could become ill: Headaches, fatigue, disorientation…

12. Discussion… Think about our current season of sports…
What specific ways could sports medicine professionals help prevent sport injury?
What ways do we already prevent injury for our athletes?

13. Injury Prevention Methods
List ways ways injuries prevented
Specifically there are 6…

14. Pre-Participation Physical
The “Physical” is an evaluation tool used to screen athletes prior to an athletic season
It evaluates the body from head to toe & prior injury to current problems
What kind of potential problems for athletes could we find from a physical?

15. Pre-Season Strength & Conditioning Program
This time before season begins is important
To improve in strength and condition you must work harder than accustomed
What does this mean for athletes?

16. Flexibility Programs Lack of flexibility can result in injury How?
Types of Stretching
Static
Dynamic
Ballistic

17. Proper use of Protective Equipment
Improper use of equipment can result in injury
Equipment managers are integral to a team
If there is not an equipment manager, sometimes the ATC must fit equipment to ensure safety.
Besides football, what other sports would need to be fitted for special equipment?

18. Facility & Field Inspection
Inspection of fields, courts & other areas of play is important to keep unnecessary injuries down.
What kinds of field problems could cause injury?

19. Hydration & Nutrition Nutrition & Hydration is the fuel for athletes
What injuries could an athlete suffer from by not being well nourished?
If an athlete is not hydrated, what happens to their performance?

20. Recap… So what are our 6 methods of Injury Prevention?
Pre-Participation Physicals
Pre-Season strength & conditioning programs
Flexibility
Proper use of protective equipment
Facility & Field Inspection
Hydration & Nutrition

21. Mini Project Each student will be assigned a Injury Prevention Method
You will produce a poster
Defining the Method
The “Do’s” and “Dont’s” of this method
You will share with the class your poster project