Chapter 2: Safe and Smart Physical Activity
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Lesson Objectives:
• List and describe some activity-related physical injuries.
• List some guidelines for preventing injuries during
physical activity.
• Explain how to apply the RICE formula to the treatment
of physical injuries.
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Question
Injuries can occur while playing sports or because
you attempt to do too much activity. What are
some common types of injuries?
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer
Some common types of injuries are
• chronic injuries, which result from overuse or
over-training; examples include
– shinsplints,
– stress fractures,
– tennis elbow, and
– rotator cuff (shoulder) injuries.
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer (continued)
• acute injuries, which result from an accident that
occurs while participating; examples include
– spraining an ankle,
– straining a muscle, and
– breaking a bone.
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer (continued)
Another kind of injury is called microtrauma. It is
• a small but unseen and unfelt injury,
• caused by risky exercises,
• caused by wear and tear over time, and
• the cause of muscle or joint injuries later in life.
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Question
What is the difference between a strain and a
sprain?
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer
• Sprains are injuries to ligaments (sprained
ankle, for example).
• Strains are injuries to muscles
and tendons (strained hamstring
muscle, for example).
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Question
What is the difference between a sign and a
symptom of an injury?
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer
• Signs are things the injured person or others can
see:
– bruising
– swelling
– bleeding
• Symptoms are felt by the injured person:
– soreness
– sharp pain
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Question
Injuries from physical activity occur most often to
skin, bones, ligaments, and tendons. What is the
difference between ligaments and tendons?
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer
• Ligaments are tissues that
connect bones together.
• For example, knee ligaments
connect the bones of the upper
and lower leg (femur to the tibia
and fibula) (see picture).
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer (continued)
• Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to
bone.
• For example one tendon connects the muscle of
the upper leg to the kneecap (see previous
picture).
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Question
When an injury happens, it needs to be treated.
For injuries such as sprains and strains, what
should be done immediately following an injury?
Lesson 2.3: Physical Activity and Injury
Answer
The RICE principle should be followed:
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
• end