EXSS Exam 1

Sports Medicine Team

Member: Athletic trainer, team physician, coach, athletic director, physical therapist, and sometimes nutritionist or psychologist

Goal prevent, diagnose, and treat athletic injuries; promote safe participation in sports

Athletic trainers responsibility

• Evaluate injuries On the field

• Provide emergency care and rehabilitation

• Implement injury prevention stratagies

• Maintain medical records and communication with athletes, parents, and coaches

Athletic director/coach responsibility

• Ensure safety of athletes and compliances with rules

• Enforce policies and emergency procedures

• Support athletic trainer and team medical staff

• Not usually responsible for medical decisions but must follow proper protocols

Emergency action plans (EAP)

• Written plan for emergencies (e.g., cardiac arrest, fractures, heat illness)

• Must include: roles, communications, equipment, venue-specific procedures

• All staff should know their role before an incident

Liability

Legal responsibility for harm caused

Negligence

Failing to act as a reasonably careful person would, leading to injury

Standard of Care

Expected level of service by a professional

Assumption of risk

Athlete acknowledges inherent risks in sport

Informed Consent

Athlete understands treatment risks and agrees

Best time to evaluate an injury

• On the field/immediately after it occurs

• Quick assessment helps determine severity and need for immediate care.

Posture abnormalities

Common ones: scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, forward head, rounded shoulders

Posture corrections

Exercises, stretching, strengthening, physical therapy, posture awareness

Care for an unconscious athlete

• check for ABC’s (Airway, breathing, circulation)

• Monitor vital signs and level of consciousness

• Do not move unless there’s immediate danger

• Be ready for shock, seizure, or vomiting

• Call emergency service if needed

S&S of shock

• pale, cools, clammy skin

• Rapid pulse, rapid shallow breathing

• Nausea, dizziness, confusion, weakness

• Low bp (in late shock)

Vital signs (normal ranges)

• Pulse: 60-100 bpm (adult), higher for children

• Respiration: 12-20 breaths per minutes (adult)

• Blood Pressure: 120/80

• Temperature: 97-99

H.O.P.S Assessment

H- History: Ask athlete about injury

O- Observation: Look for swelling, discomfort, color changes

P- Palpation: Feel for tenderness, misalignment

S- Special Test: Specific tests to check ligaments, muscles joints

Signs

Objective evidence (visible swelling, bleeding, abnormal gait)

Symptoms

Subjective experience reported by the athlete (pain, dizziness, nausea)

HIPPA

• protects the privacy of athletes’ medicine information

• only share info with authorized individuals

Sports medicine

Branch of medicine focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries

Policies and Procedures Manual

• Guides staff protocols, emergency plans, documentation, and roles

• Ensure legal and ethical compliance