Sports Injury Management

Sports Injury Management

 Sports injuries refer to the damages that occur during training or competition. Other sports injuries can occur due to accidents, inadequate warm-up, improper training, and lack of conditioning. Sports and exercise can affect the health of an individual in the form of injuries. The effects of these injuries can be minor, and one recovers after a period of rest. When the injuries are significant, the affected individuals may need to retire from the career (Brukner & Khan, 2017). A substantial percentage of all emergencies are linked to sports and exercise. Injuries in games are inevitable but can be managed and reduced. The benefits of taking part in sporting activities outweigh the risks of injuries that are encountered during sports activities. This paper elucidates the classification of injuries, assessment, and management strategies that are aimed at these injuries.

Classification of Injuries

Sports or exercise injuries occur in various ways, which are classified based on either the body tissue damaged or the cause of the injury.  When classifying injuries based on the cause, it falls under three categories. The categories include direct injury, indirect injury, an overuse injury (Poldog et al.,2018). The injuries that are classified according to the tissue damage are divided into hard-tissue injuries and soft-tissue injuries. These categories have been explained below.

A direct injury occurs due to external blow or force.  Direct damages also happen when one person collides with another; for instance, the rugby players usually collide when tackling each other. It can also occur when an individual is hit by an object that is used during sports such as the cricket ball or the hockey stick. Injuries can also occur due to external forces, which include bruises, joint and ligament damage, hematomas, dislocations, and bone fractures.

An indirect injury may be caused by actual damage, which can occur some distance from the site where there was an impact. For example, a dislocated shoulder can happen when someone falls on an outstretched hand. An injury might also occur without any impact or physical contact with the object or the person. The internal forces of the individual performer due to poor techniques, lack of fitness, and fatigue. This can lead to injuries such as muscle strains and tears and ligament sprains (Poldog et al.,2018).

Overuse injuries are caused by a recurring and excessive force that is exerted on the bones and the other connective tissues of the body.  Initially, the performer may feel little or no pain. Therefore, the performer continues to add pressure on the inured site without their consent. The site might not get the required time to heal. The sites worsen and later becomes inflamed and inured. The symptoms of this type of injury are experienced mostly during a change in practice, for example, increasing the training time and intensity. The body might not be able to handle the stresses that are exerted on it. Poorly planned training sessions can lead to overuse injury because, in some cases, the performer is not given time to rest adequately between the intense exercise (Brukner & Khan, 2017).

Common Sports Injuries

According to Brukner & Khan (2017), Soft tissue injuries include sprains, contusions, and tear, while the hard-tissue injuries include fractures and dislocations. Hard tissue injuries can lead to more damage to the blood vessels and the surrounding organs and nerves.

Sprain: Sprain leads to intensive damage to the ligaments, cartilages, and the synovial membrane. The immediate response to this injury may be compression and rest. Another expensive management is surgical exploration. If the ligaments are stitched, then the recovery rate may be fast. The injured can be raised slightly to reduce the pain. Cold compression can also be done simultaneously at an interval of four hours for 36 hours (Poldog et al.,2018).

Dislocation:  As discussed earlier, dislocation occurs due to the external forces that exert pressure on the bones. This leads to stiffness and loss of movements. There can also be tenderness at the joint. The movement of the dislocated part should be resisted before consulting a Doctor. The x-ray can assist in the comparison of the dislocated bone to the area, which is intact (Brukner & Khan, 2017).

Blister:  This is a common injury that is considered to be minor. It is mostly found on the palms of the hand and the foot’s sole. Athletes get these injuries at the early stages of exercise.  Strains: An abrupt excessive unopposed muscle contraction causes this injury due to pulls.

Management of the Injuries.

An injured individual needs immediate assistance. Therapeutic exercise can be given to an athlete as a physical treatment for rehabilitation. Complete rest is advised for any athlete to facilitate quick recovery. The time of rest depends on how the injury is severe. Fractures and dislocations required immediate immobilization to stop the motion in the inured part. Maximum care should be taken because sometimes prolonged immobilization can cause permanent loss of movement. Therefore, it should be done as prescribed by the doctor. The sports therapists spend most of their time in the assessment and treatment. However, the therapist has a crucial role in preventing these inquiries (Norris, 2014).

Considering the financial and physical harm that can be caused by the injuries, then primary management is necessary. The therapist takes secondary measures by examining the inured athlete and working on reducing the risks that might be caused by subsequent injuries (Poldog et al.,2018). Immediate management of the skin injuries is to prevent the infection of the first aider and the victim, prevent loss of blood or entry of pathogens and to promote healing. When attending an athlete who is unconscious DRABCD action is followed. It stands for danger, response, airway, breathing, compressions, and defibrillation. If the athlete is conscious, then TOTAPS (Talk, observe touch, active movement, passive movement, and skills) method is used.

References

Podlog, L., Heil, J., & Podlog, S. (2018). Sports injury: psychological consequences and management strategies. In Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (pp. 127-152). Routledge.

Norris, C. (2014) Sports Injuries: Diagnosis and Management: 3rd Ed. Butterworth and Heinemann.London, UK

Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017) Clinical Sports Medicine, Third Edition. McGraw Hill.