Common Sports Injuries
Recap from last class
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Joints – terms, types
Range of movement in joints
Structure and function of joints
Different types of synovial joints and their
characteristics
• Joint movement
Tissue Properties
• Tissues have vascular properties
• Vascularity refers to the amount of blood a
tissue has or requires
• Ligaments and cartilage are avascular
because they do not receive their nutrients
through blood. They receive it through
compression
Tissue Properties
• Bones and muscles are vascular, therefore
they receive nutritional needs through
blood
• Ligaments and cartilage are avascular
because they do not receive their nutrients
through blood. They receive it through
compression
• The more vascular a tissue, the less time it
takes to recover from an injury
Ankle Sprain
• A severe in-turning or out-turning of the
foot may cause the ligaments of the ankle
to stretch beyond their normal length.
• If the force is too strong, the ligaments can
tear. The amount of force determines the
grade of the sprain.
First – Third Degree Tears, Sprains
and Pulls
• Tears, sprains and pulls are used to
describe joint injuries
• Sprains are associated with ligaments and
tendons
• Pulls and strains are associated with
muscles
First – Third Degree Tears, Sprains
and Pulls
• Tears, sprains and pulls fall into 3 categories on severity
of injury:
1. First degree – Mild and least severe. It
will take a short time (a day or a few
days) to heal if proper care is taken the
moment injury occurs.
2. Second degree – They are moderate.
They require treatment from a physiotherapist
once diagnosed by a Doctor.
3. Third degree – Most severe injury. May require
surgery and rehabilitation.
Common Sports
Injuries
Tendinitis
• Inflammation of a tendon caused by
irritation due to a prolonged or abnormal
use
Tendinitis
Dislocations
• Dislocations occur when a bone is
displaced from its original location
• It usually involves damage to joint capsule
and ligaments that hold the 2 bones
together
• Muscles and tendons may be torn based
on severity of dislocation
Dislocations
Separations
• Separations occur when bones held
together by fibrous ligaments tear and
separate from each other
Separations
Cartilage Damage
• Recap three main types of cartilage:
1. Hyaline cartilage – found at ends of
bones and free moving joints – most
common
2. Fibrocartilage – tough and very strong
cartilage that is found between
vertebrae
3. Elastic Cartilage – “yellow cartilage” makes up
external ear, auditory tube and epiglottis
Cartilage Damage
• Cartilage is covered by perichondrium
• Cartilage has no blood supply (avascular),
therefore takes time to heal
• Cartilage damage or injuries (known in
popular sports language as “torn
cartilage”) in the knee is common in sports
like soccer and basketball
Cartilage Damage
Shin Splints
• It is overuse of shin without adequate
recovery time
• This term refers to a painful condition
occurring in the medial or lateral side of
the tibia, on its shaft
• It’s caused by tearing of interosseus
membrane (located between tibia and
fibula) or the periosteum (the lining of the
bone)
Shin Splints
Proper Treatment of an Injury
• Injuries occur in all sports
• When an injury occurs, one or more of the following
signs will appear in this acronym SHARP
Swelling instantly or overtime
Heat or increased temperature of
injured area
Altered, the tissue may not function
properly
Red in color and the area might be
Painful to touch or move
The PIER Principle
• When a fellow teammate gets injured in a sport,
you should follow the P.I.E.R. principle to treat
injury
Pressure
Ice
Elevation
Restriction
• when an injury occurs, make sure it is diagnosed
and treated by a sports medicine doctor or a
chiropractor with a sports injury background