1. SPORTS INJURIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT

2. RISK MANAGEMENT
Any physical activity can pose a risk to the participant. Risk management is the process of measuring or assessing risk and then developing strategies to manage the risk.
RISK – is the chance of something happening. It is measured in terms of likelihood and consequences.

3. RISK MANAGEMENT What could go wrong?
What protections do you have in place to prevent likely occurrences?
What will you do if it happens?
Some suggested steps in the risk management processes are:

4. RISK MANAGEMENT - PROCESSES
Identification and assessment of possible risks
Creating a plan
Identification of possible actions available
Implementing the plan
Risk avoidance
Ongoing monitoring
Risk reduction
Evaluation of the plan

5. A practical example
A practical example such as being injured by making contact to a goal post could be useful in gaining an understanding of likelihood and consequence.
An e.g. of reducing the likelihood is that the number of players allowed in the goal square be restricted (rule change).
Reducing the consequence could see a club padding the goal posts.

7. Risk management
It’s not just about injury and injury prevention, risk management encompasses such areas as the facility, environmental and equipment safety, coaching, an athletes physical preparation procedures and health policies.

8. Risk management – the Australian standards (www.ausport.gov.au)

9. What could go wrong? (In training and recovery)
Identify three things that could go wrong in training?
2. Identify two things that could go wrong in recovery?
3. Explain the preventative actions you could take to avoid the factors identified in 1 and 2 causing things to go wrong in training and recovery.

10. What could go wrong? (In training and recovery)
Inadequate pre participation screening
Inability to get medical assistance
Coaches’ conduct and coaching practices
Return to training following an injury
Program design
Not providing sufficient recovery
Activities and equipment
Environmental conditions

11. What can be done? (to avoid things going wrong)

12. Policy development and documentation

13. Risk management practices some examples
Adequate supervision
Proper instruction
Sound planning
Warning of inherent dangers
A safe environment
Teaching of the rules of sport esp. safety
Evaluate athletes injuries or limitations
Proper classification (e.g skill level vs. age)
Counselling and info on drug use
Keep up to date with current practices in coaching and sport
Appropriate first aid

14. Risk management procedures
In addition to the development of policy, the development of procedures in a range of areas is a useful action to take. Areas include:
Screening (pre participation)
Athlete preparation
Injury management
Facility and use of equipment (inspections)
Prevention and treatment of environmental stress factors

16. Test your knowledge
The personal training sector of the fitness industry is going through a boom time. The industry is growing by 6-10% a year according to VICFIT. Victoria has 380 fitness centres and more than 60 personal training studios. There are more than 120 fitness courses offered by 21 institutions and more than 1500 students are set to graduate this year.
Identify the potential risks for clients working with a personal trainer.
In which areas would policy be necessary to reduce the likelihood of risk for fitness centres and PT studios?
What type of pre-participation screening would you recommend for clients?
List 3 procedures you would recommend the centres adopt to reduce the likelihood of injury from participation in training.

18. SPORTS INJURIES - DIAGNOSIS
Accurate and speedy diagnosis of sports injuries is vital for correct training and recovery.
Some injuries need to be diagnosed by medical personal whilst others can often be diagnosed and treated by first aiders or a sports trainer.

19. Medical diagnosis needed..

20. Modern diagnostic tools
Sports medicine specialists use some of the following to assist in diagnosing an athlete – be aware of these (read page 316 LIU)
X rays
CT (computer tomography)
MRI’s
Ultrasound
electromyogram

21. Serious injuries DRABC
St Johns Ambulance emergency action plan for dealing with an emergency situation can be used on conscious and unconscious patients.
Become familiar with the plan (Page 317 LIU)

22. Sports injuries in training, competition and during recovery
SALTAPS
Another method of assessing sporting injuries commonly used in Australia.
(Page 318 LIU)

23. DOMS
Delayed onset muscle soreness is a condition that occurs after strenuous, unfamiliar exercise.
It affects muscle fibres, resulting in localised pain and discomfort. It is commonly felt after extensive endurance activities and explosive eccentric contractions e.g. plyometrics.
Eccentric contractions require the actin and myosin to separate forcefully therefore creating high tension in the muscles and therefore causing muscle soreness.
24-72 hours after the event the pain / discomfort peaks.

24. DOMS To lessen the severity of DOMS:
Stretching – cool down (at least 30 sec’s)
Cryotherapy – cold to reduce inflammation e.g ice bath
Ultrasound – physio’s or sport med staff
Anti inflammatory drugs
Exercise – low impact, non weight bearing.
Training – specific eccentric work can gradually be introduced to protect against DOMS in the future.

25. ASTHMA Common (30% of Australians)
Narrows the trachea and bronchus restricting movement of O2 into and around the body.
Can be triggered by:
-allergies
-dust
-smoke
-emotion
-cold
-sudden unusual exercise

26. EXERCISE INDUCED ASTHMA
Can be managed by athletes – medication
Continuous exercise is more likely going to cause an attack than intermittent activities.
Exercise benefits the asthmatic and regular training can reduce the number and severity of attacks.
Page 322 of LIU

28. OVERUSE AND CHRONIC INJURIES
Rest and recovery in between training is essential to prevent overtraining and injury.
If high workloads and low levels of rest are the norm the athlete may end up with an overuse injury, especially adolescence (hormones of puberty make them more susceptible).
Some common e.gs – shin splints, osteitis pubis, tennis elbow, patella tendonitis, stress fractures, achilles tendonitis (LIU page )

29. Recovery from injury Know the following:
RICERS – rest, ice, compression, elevation, referral and stretch.
HARM – do not apply HEAT, consume ALCOHOL, no RUNNING, avoid MASSAGE
Surgery
Counselling.