KIN 240: Injury Identification

Elastic Properties of Tissue

• MSK tissues have varying degrees of elastic property

• response to strain without deformation

Tissue Failure

• strain exceed elastic property (result in injury)

Compression

• together, force to crush tissues

• one significant blow or repeated submaximal blows

• ex: contusions, broken clavicle, jumpers knee

Tension

• pulling apart

• stress beyond what can be sustained

• ex: sprain, strain, avulsion

Shearing

• parallel force

• ex: slipping sliding, tackling, anything with high gripping force

Bending

• axial load needs to be present

• ex: greenstick fracture

Torsion

• twisting in opposite directions from opposite ends

• femur and tibia are susceptible to this

Severity of Injury

• Life Threatening: IMMEDIATE risk of their health, wellbeing or life

• Serious: significant implication to continue to participate in sport, impact ADL’s and can require surgery or extensive rehab

• Non-Life Threatening/Non-Serious: majority of sport injuries, variety of debilitation, time lost and rehab

Injury Classification

• Acute: immediate onset, signs of SHARP (swelling, heat, altered function, redness, pain), immediate intervention

• Chronic: micro-traumas, maybe no MOI to explain, numerous contributing factors, altering participation (most effective) and rehab

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

• Intrinsic: results from dysfunction or overuse (shin splints)

• Extrinsic: interacting with opponent or structure (tackling)

• Environmental: result of surroundings (frostbite, sunburn, skin infection)

Responding to Injury

• have a plan → more efficient when you have clear EAP

• guidance and order

• EAP: accounts for all moving parts of an emergence in a sporting environment

EAP Components

• Charge Person: most capable to handle situation, can shift between people

• Call Person: responsible for calling EMS and relay info between charge and EMS

• Control Person: keep onlookers away, general assistance

• List facility’s address, access points, barriers, phone and emergency supplies, nearest hospitals, medi-centers and urgent care

EAP Considerations

• all emergency phones location

• phones accessible and working

• AED on site and accessible in reasonable time

• other first aiders

• athlete’s medical info cards on-site and accessible

• access route planned

• doors and gates unlocked

When to call EMS?

• unresponsive or suspect loss of consciousness

• trouble breathing

• bleeding severely

• convulsing

• possible head or neck injury (NOT THE SAME AS SRC)

• suspected broken bones

• better to be safe when unsure KNOW YOUR SCOPE

Sideline Evaluation

• ruled out life-threatening injury

• Secondary survey: understand extent and severity of injury

• H (history), O (observations), P(palpation), S (special tests)

History

• sounds and sensations

• position of body/limb when injury happened

• any contact with structure/opponent?

• what way did the body/limb go?

• direction of force?

• where is the pain?

Observation

• what can you see is injured vs. uninjured

• SHARP, deformity, severe bleeding

• might need to remove equipment to see better

Palpation

• what FEELS injured vs. uninjured

• expose area

• appropriate pressure

• know surface structures

Special Tests

• specific to type of injury and structure involved

• performed by trained individuals

• to identify structures involved and severity

• ligament tests, ROM, strength testing