What you will learn about in this topic:

1. Common injuries

2. Treatment of injuries

3. The effect of injury on sports performance

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Learning objectives

By the end of this presentation you should be able to:

• Understand the different types of sports injuries

• Describe the main types of injury found in sport

• Explain how to treat a range of minor injuries

Common injuries

Common injuries are more complex than minor injuries and include:

• Strains• Sprains• Torn cartilage• Fractures• Dislocation

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RICE

The RICE procedure can be used to treat soft tissue injuries.

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RICE stands for:

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• Rest

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• Ice

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• Compression

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• Elevation

Strains

Strains are classed as soft tissue injuries and can happen when a muscle is twisted or wrenched.

To avoid a strain, make sure you warm-up correctly!

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However, strains can be difficult to avoid when an activity requires the performer to contract and relax a muscle quickly.

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Sprain

Sprains are damage to joints and are also classed as soft tissue injuries.

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Sprains can happen when an ankle or a wrist is twisted suddenly, when a performer lands badly for example.

Torn cartilage

Torn cartilage is a soft tissue injury and occurs when a joint is twisted excessively, usually when changing direction or pivoting at speed.

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This commonly happens at the knee joint and is extremely painful when the joint is moved.

Footballers usually suffer from this injury.

The treatment for torn cartilage is RICE, although an operation may be necessary in severe cases.

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Fractures

Fractures are hard tissue injuries and occur when an excessive impact or force is put on the bone. This can happen from a blow or a twist.

When a bone is fractured, the limb becomes immobile and there is extreme pain.

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The area is tender and there may be swelling, leading to bruising.

Keeping to the rules of the game and not tackling recklessly can reduce the risk of this injury.

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Types of fracture

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A closed/simple fracture is when the break of the bone is under the skin.

A compound/open fracture is when the broken end of the bone comes through the skin.

This can cause complications as there is risk of infection from germs entering the body where the skin is broken.

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A greenstick fracture is when pressure or impact buckles or bends a bone but only partially breaks it.

This fracture is common in the developing bones of young children whose bones are quite springy.

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A stress fracture is an incomplete fracture of the bone. It is caused by unusual, repeated stress.

As the bone withstands the constant pressure of impact it tries to remodel itself but fails. As the osteoblasts become exhausted they become unable to cope with the demand.

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As a result, small cracks are created in the weight-bearing bones, often referred to as hairline cracks.

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The treatment for stress fractures is rest.

Joint injuries

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Tennis elbow is an over-use injury at the elbow and can happen through too much use of tendons or playing with a racket with the wrong sized handle.

Dislocation is a hard tissue injury and occurs when a joint is moved outside of its designed range.

They can occur at all major joints from a forceful blow and will look deformed and be extremely painful. The player will also have no control over movement in that area.

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To treat a dislocation, make the person comfortable, leave the joint immobilized and get medical help. Never try to put the joint back yourself.

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Dislocations are common in high-impact sports such as rugby, skiing and football.

Task

To make a revision aid, divide an A4 sheet of paper into six sections by folding it.

In each box write down a different injury and put only the key information about each injury on the sheet.

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Exam questions

1. An athlete training for a marathon suffers pain in the lower leg as the foot impacts the ground. Explain what type of fracture this is, how it occurred and what treatment should be given.

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What you have learntin this topic:

1. Common injuries

2. Treatment of injuries

3. The effect of injury on sports performance

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Learning objectives

You should now be able to:• Understand the different types of

sports injuries

• Describe the main types of injury found in sport

• Explain how to treat a range of minor injuries