Injury Evaluation – Beyond Body Regions

Sports Trauma

Tissue Properties and Stresses

Properties

  • Load - outside forces or forces acting on tissue

  • Stress - internal reaction/response to the external load

  • Strain - deformation of tissue under loading

  • Viscoelastic - viscous and elastic properties which allow for the deformation; all human tissue has these properties

  • Anisotropic - tissue also has this property, dependent on the direction of load, the tissue will respond with greater or lesser strength

  • Yield point - elastic limit of tissue

  • Mechanical failure - what causes tissue to break but the limit being exceeded that the tissue can handle

Stresses

  • Tension - a force that pulls or stretches the tissue

  • Stretching - going beyond the yield pint can lead to rupture of soft tissue or fracture

  • Compression - when enough energy causes the tissue to not withstand the force

  • Shearing - force moving across parallel tissue

  • Bending - force on horizontal bone where the stress causes bending or strain

Trauma and Injury

  • Soft tissue trauma can be:

    • Inert (noncontractile) - skin, joint capsules, ligaments, fascia, cartilage, dura mater, and nerve roots

    • Contractile - muscle, tendon, or bony insertion

  • Skin injuries

    • Two-layer - epidermis and dermis

    • Can be caused by friction (blister), scraping, compression (bruise), tearing (laceration, avulsion), cutting, and/or penetrating (puncture)

  • Skeletal muscle injuries

    • Muscle fibers properties: contraction, irritability, conductivity, elasticity

    • Types: striated, cardiac, and smooth

    • Sarcoplasm (inner to outer), endomysium, perimysium (arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and nerve fibers), epimysium (capillaries)

    • Aponeurosis (fibrous wrapping) that attaches to other muscles

    • Types of injuries

      • Contusions

      • Strains

      • Tendon injuries

      • Muscle spasms

      • Overexertion muscle problems

      • Muscle guarding

      • Myofascial trigger points

    • Chronic musculotendinous injuries

      • Myositis

      • Fasciitis

      • Tendonitis

      • Tenosynovitis

      • Ectopic Calcification

      • Atrophy

      • Contracture

Synovial Joints

Joints

  • Cartilage and fibrous connective tissue

  • Classification:

    • Synarthrotic = immovable

    • Amphiarthrotic = slightly movable

    • Diarthrotic = freely movable

  • Joint capsule - strong, the cuff of fibrous tissue consisting of collagen and helps to maintain relative joint position

Ligaments

  • Collagen fibers that connect two bones

    • Intrinsic - where the articular capsule is thickened

    • Extrinsic - outside of joint

  • Contain elastic and collagen fibers - wavy, irregular, spiral

    • Strongest in middle; weakest at ends

    • Avulsion fractures

  • Injury factors

    • Constant compression or tension leads to deterioration

    • Intermittent compression or tension increases strength

    • Chronic inflammation shrinks collagen fibers leading to acute injuries

  • Joint protection

    • Capsules and ligaments provide protection

    • Roux's law of function adaptation - an organ will adapt itself structurally to an altercation, quantitative or qualitative, of function

  • Synovial membrane and synovial fluid

    • Connective tissue with flattened cells and villi

    • Fluid secreted and absorbed acts as a lubricant

  • Articular cartilage

    • No direct blood flow or nerve supply

    • Three types:

      • Hyaline (articular) - nasal septum, larynx, trachea, bronchi, articular ends of bones -

        • Provides static and dynamic stability; no direct blood supply

        • Motion control, stability, and load transmission

      • Fibrous - vertebral disks, pubic symphysis, menisci

      • The elastic - external ear, Eustachian tube

  • Additional synovial joint structures

    • Fat pads - knee and elbow

    • Fibrocartilage - disks connected to the capsule

  • Nerve supply

    • Mechanoreceptors provide information about the relative position of the joint; myelinated

  • Types of synovial joints

    • Ball and socket - glenohumeral, hip joint

    • Hinge - elbow

    • Pivot - cervical atlas and axis, proximal ends of radius and ulna

    • Ellipsoidal - wrist

    • Saddle - carpometacarpal joint of the thumb

    • Gliding - joints between the carpal and tarsal bones, intervertebral joints

  • Synovial joint stabilization

    • Hilton's law - the joint capsule, the muscles moving the joint, and the skin on top have the same nerve supply

    • Muscles help stabilize

    • Shunt muscles - muscles that attach directly to articular cartilage

  • Articular capsule and ligaments

    • Ligaments are strongest in middle, weakest at the ends

    • Quick response than muscles

  • Synovial joint trauma

    • Capsule

      • Acute - tension, compression --> sprains, dislocation, subluxation, synovial swelling

      • Chronic - tension, compression, shearing --> capsulitis, synovitis, bursitis

    • Hyaline cartilage

      • Chronic - compression, shearing --> osteochondrosis, traumatic arthritis

  • Acute joint injuries

    • Joint sprains ( Grade I, Grade II, Grade III )

    • Acute synovitis

    • Subluxation

    • Dislocation

    • Diastasis

  • Chronic joint injuries

    • Osteochondrosis

    • Osteoarthritis

    • Bursitis

    • Capsulitis

    • Synovitis

Bone Injury

  • Osteocytes (bone cells) fixed in intracellular matric

  • Outer bone - compact tissue; inner bone - cancellous bone which is more porous - tunnled by marrow cavity

  • Haversian system - canals of blood vessels and lymphatic vessles

  • Periosteum - outside bone that contains blood supply

  • Functions

    • Body support

    • Organ protection

    • Movement

    • Calcium storage

    • Hematopoiesis

  • Types of bone

    • Flat bones - skull, ribs, scapulae

    • Irregular bones - vertebral column and skull

    • Short bones - wrist and ankle

    • Long bones - humerus, ulnar, femur, tibia, fibula, phalanges

  • Structures of bones

    • Diaphysis - main shaft of long bone

    • Epiphysis - at the ends of long bones

    • Articular cartilage - covers ends of long bones

    • Periosteum - fibrous membrane that covers long bones

    • Medullary (marrow) cavity - hollow tube in long bone diaphysis containing marrow

    • Calcium salt - make bone hard

    • Osteocyte - found in lacunae

    • Haversian system - haversian canal with alternating layers of intercellular matrix

    • Compact bone - interspersed lamellae fill spaces between haversian system

    • Cancellous bone - numerous open spaces located between trabeculae

    • Volkmann’s canal - blood circulation connects periosteum and haversian canal

  • Bone growth

    • Osteoblasts synthesize matrix --> calcification of matrix

    • Ossification begins in the diaphysis and in both epiphyses

    • Growth plate - layers of cartilage cells in different stages of maturity

    • Osteoblasts build new bone on outside of bone; at same time

    • Osteoclasts increase medullary cavity

    • Bone’s functional adaptation - Wolff’s law

  • Bone injuries --> Anatomical weak point and load characteristics

    • Periostitis

    • Depressed fracture

    • Greenstick fracture

    • Impacted fracture

    • Longitudinal fracture

    • Spiral fracture

    • Oblique fracture

    • Serrated fracture

    • Transverse fracture

    • Comminuted fracture

    • Contrecoup fracture

    • Blowout fracture

    • Avulsion fracture

    • Stress Fracture

    • Salter-Harris Classification: (Type 1 - Type 5)

    • Apophyseal injuries - Sever’s disease, Osgood-Schlatter’s disease

Nerve Injury

  • Neuron-cell body dendrites, axon

  • Large axons in peripheral nerves enclosed in neurilemmal sheaths

    • Schwann cells, Satellite cells)

  • CNS - neuroglial cells - astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, microglia - work together to bind neurons and provide support for nervous tissue

  • Injuries - compression, tension

    • Neuritis

    • Referred pain

  • Microtrauma and overuse --> injury

  • Patho-mechanics - poor mechanic of movement

    • Many sports are unilateral --> imbalance

Tissue Response to Injury

The Healing Process - Inflammatory Response Phase

  • Inflammatory response phase

    • 4 days

    • Cellular injury = altered metabolism and release of the substances that initiate this process

    • Signs and symptoms

      • Redness

      • Swelling

      • Tenderness

      • Pain

      • Warmth (increased temperature)

      • Loss of function

    • Leukocytes, phagocytic cells, exudates --> injured tissue

    • Phagocytosis = dispose of injury byproducts, i.e. blood, damaged celled

    • Vascular reaction

      • Immediate vasoconstriction (within minutes)

      • Vascular dilation

      • Initial effusion lasting about 24-36 hours

      • Chemical mediators

        • Histamine

        • Leukotaxin - margination --> diapedesis

        • Necrotic

        • Leukocytes release - bradykinin and prostaglandin

    • Formation of clot

      • Starts at 12 hours post-injury --> finish within 48 hours

      • Due to injury to a vessel

      • Blood coagulation

        • Thromboplastin release --> prothrombin changed to thrombin --> thrombin converts fibrinogen

    • Phagocytosis

      • PMN's (polymorphonuclear neutrophils) - kills bacteria

      • Mononuclear phagocytes/macrophages

      • Debris removed --> blood coagulates --> epithelial cells migrate

    • Chronic inflammation

      • Replaces leukocytes with macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells

The Healing Process - Fibroblastic Repair phase

  • Fibroblastic repair phase

    • Day 4 - 6 weeks

    • Fibroplasias - scar formation

    • Revascularization

      • Capillary buds grow into wounds by way of decreased oxygen

      • Fibroblasts lay granulation tissue (fibroblasts, collagen, capillaries)

    • Wound contraction

      • Extracellular matrix - collagen, elastin, ground substance - start at the margins of the wound and work their way towards the center of the wound

    • Types of repair

      • Resolution = back to normal

      • Granulation tissue = initial is type III collagen but changes to type I within two weeks leading the tensile strength to begin low

      • Regeneration = new cells of the same type are made and can still perform the function of previous cells

The Healing Process - Maturation/Remodeling Phase

  • Maturation/remodeling phase

    • 6 weeks - 2-3 years

    • Realignment and remodeling of collagen fibers depend on the tensile forces that are put on the scar tissue

      • Fibers should realign parallel to lines of that tensions

    • After about 3 weeks, a scar exists

    • Wolff's law = "bone and soft tissue will respond to the physical demands placed on them, causing them to remodel or realign along lines of tensile force."

      • When inflammatory symptoms decrease --> controlled mobilization

      • ROM and strengthening should be done during this phase and depending on the pain

Healing

  • Factors that impede healing

    1. Extent of injury

    2. Edema

    3. Hemorrhage

    4. Decrease vascular supply

    5. Separation of tissue

    6. Muscle spasm

    7. Corticosteroids

    8. Keloids

    9. Infection

    10. Environmental factors (humidity, climate, oxygen tension)

    11. Biological factors (health, age, nutrition)

  • Soft tissue healing

    • Epithelial tissue - skin, organ lining

    • Connective tissue - tendons, ligaments

    • Muscle - skeletal, cardiac

    • Nervous tissue - brain, nerves

      • Soft tissue adaptation

        • Metaplasia

        • Dysplasia

        • Hyperplasia

        • Atrophy

        • Hypertrophy

  • Cartilage healing

    • Limited healing capacity

  • Ligament healing

    • First 72 hours - blood loss and inflammatory cells

    • Vascular proliferation --> fibrin clot

    • Maturation = up to 12 months

    • Factors that affects ligament healing : Surgery, active exercise vs immobilization and the strength of the muscles that surround the injured site

  • Muscle healing

    • Hemorrhage --> edema -- > phagocytosis

    • Fibroblasts --> fibrosis --> scarring

    • Long rehab period

  • Tendon healing

    • Dense fibrous connectivity --> need a lot of collagen

    • By the 2nd week - healing tendon connect with tissue that surrounds it

    • By the 3rd week - tendon starts to separate from tissue

  • Nerve healing

    • Regeneration (3-4mm per day) of nerve is impossible unless the cell body is unaffected

    • Axon that is distal to injury degenerates and breaks down

      • Regeneration process begins - nerve cell body

      • Myelin portion of Schwann cells also degenerates

      • Myelin phagocytized

    • PNS nerves have possibility of generated better than CNS nerve

  • Modifying soft-tissue healing

    • Anti-inflammatory medications may interfere with inflammatory process

    • Therapeutic modalities

    • Therapeutic exercise

      • Immobilization is not always the best

  • Bone healing

    • Affected by torsion, bending and compression

    • Damage to blood vessels and periosteum

    • First week

      • Fibroblasts lay down fibrous collagen

        • Chondroblast --> form callus

        • Osteoblasts --> form cancellous bone trabeculae which replaces cartilage

        • Callus (external and internal) crystallizes --> bone and remodeling phase starts

        • Osteoclasts - to clean up debris

      • Remodeling - Wolff's law

    • Weeks - 3-8 - Immobilization

    • 2-3 years - osteoblasts and osteoclasts still work

    • Acute fractures

      • Full immobilization

      • Factors that affect healing

        • Poor blood supply

        • Poor immobilization

        • Infection

        • Soft tissue impingement

    • Stress fractures

      • Cyclic forces that load bone, pull on muscles

      • Healing = restore balance between osteoclast and osteoblast activity

      • Better treated is noticed early

Pain

  • Types of pain

    • Acute - lasting less than 6 months

    • Chronic

    • Referred - pain is not necessarily at the site of injury

  • Nociceptors and neural transmission

    • Nociceptors - pain receptors; sensitive to mechanical, thermal, and chemical factors

    • First-order afferents

      • Transmit impulses from nociceptor

      • A-alpha and A-beta = large-diameter

      • A-delta (fast-skin) and C (slow-skin and deeper) - small diameter

        • Pain and temperature

    • Second-order afferents

      • Carry sensory messages from the dorsal horn to the brain

        • Receive input from A-betas, A-deltas, and Cs

    • Third-order afferents

      • Carry information to the brain for interpretation

  • Facilitators and inhibitors

    • Serotonin-descending pathways

    • Norepinephrine - inhibits pain transmission between first and second-order

    • Substance P - in first order

    • Enkephalins - in descending pathways

    • Beta-endorphins - CNS

  • Mechanisms of pain control

    • Level 1 = Gate Control Theory

    • Level 2 = Central Biasing

    • Level 3 = Release of Beta-Endorphins

On and Off Field Emergencies

On Field Emergencies

  • Primary survey

    • Life-threatening injuries

      • Check ABC's

        • Do not remove helmet until clearing neck/spine injury

        • Supine (not breathing) check ABCs

        • Supine (breathing) wait for consciousness

        • Prone (not breathing) logroll to supine, check ABC's

        • Print (breathing) wait for consciousness

      • Check, call, care!

    • CPR

      • While someone else calls 911

    • Control bleeding

      • External - direct pressure with sterile gauze and elevation

      • Internal - 911

    • Shock

      • Reduced blood for the circulatory system

        • Fatigue, dehydration, illness, low blood pressure, rapid and weak pulse, shallow and rapid breathing

      • Maintain body temperature, elevate feet and legs

  • Secondary survey

    • Pulse - average 80-100 bpm - rapid and weak

    • Respiration - average 12-20 breaths per minute

    • Blood pressure - average 120/80 mm Hg

    • Temperature - hot and dry or cool and clammy

    • Skin color - red; pale; cyanotic

    • Pupils - dilated

    • Level of consciousness - alert, unresponsive

    • Movement - deficits

    • Abnormal nerve response - numbness, lack of pain

  • Musculoskeletal assessment

    • History

    • Visual observation - compared bilaterally

    • Palpation - point of tenderness

    • Assessment - seriousness, treatment/immobilization, immediate referral

    • Immediate treatment - RICE

    • Emergency splinting - vacuum splint, air splint

      • Lower body - splint above and below joint

      • Upper body - sling, splint

      • Spine/pelvis - spine board

  • Transportation of injured athlete

    • Spine board

      • Maintain head and neck alignment

      • Determine breathing and pulse

      • Prone - logroll

      • Supine - lift and slide

    • Pool

      • Where is an injured person in the pool

        • Edge - rescue tube

        • Deeper - get in the water

Crutch and Cane Fitting

  • Tip 6 inches anterior, 2 inches lateral

    • Underarm brace 2-3 finger width

    • Arm flexion of 30 deg

  • Crutch-walking

    • Crutch 12-15 inches ahead and swing through

  • One crutch

    • Hold crutch on uninjured side and move crutch simultaneously with an injured leg

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

  • Requirements

    • Personnel and corresponding roles

    • Emergency equipment

    • Procedures for removal of equipment

    • Phone numbers

    • Emergency call info

      • Type of emergency

      • Type of injury

      • Present condition of injured person

      • Current assistance i.e. CPR

      • Location of call

      • Exact location of emergency

        • Gate keys accessible

        • Sports medicine team aware of EAP --> assign roles,

        • Always have contact information for athletes

        • EAP for spectators as well

        • Good relationship with local EMTs

        • Consent from parents of minor athlete

Off Field Emergencies

  • Diagnosis - what disease, injury, or syndrome a person is believed to have

    • Evaluation vs. Diagnosis --> AT needs to stay within the scope

    • Differential diagnosis - method of diagnosing an injury/illness

    • Working diagnosis - most likely cause

  • Etiology - cause of injury or disease

  • Mechanism - mechanical description

  • Pathology - structural and functional changes

  • Symptom - functions that indicate injury or disease

  • Sign - objective and obvious indications for a specific conditions

  • Prognosis - predicted outcome

  • Sequel - condition following or resulting from a disease or injury

  • Syndrome - a group of symptoms indicating a certain condition or disease
     

  • Normal anatomy

    • Surface anatomy

      • Key surface landmarks

      • Planes - sagittal (anteroposterior), transverse (cross-sectional), coronal/frontal (mediolateral)

      • Anatomical directions - distal/proximal, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, inferior/superior

      • Quadrants

        • Right hypochondriac region --> epigastric region --> left hypochondriac region

        • Right lateral abdominal region --> umbilical region --> left lateral abdominal region

        • Right inguinal region --> hypogastric region --> left inguinal region

    • Musculoskeletal

      • Joints, bony structure, skeletal muscle, neural anatomy

      • Abduction/adduction, eversion/inversion, extension/flexion, internal rotation/external rotation, pronation/supination, valgus/varus

  • Biomechanics

    • Biomechanics = application of mechanical forces to living organisms

    • Pathomechanics = mechanical forces that are applied to living organisms and adversely change the body's structure and function

    • Understand biomechanics and kinesiological aspects of each sport
       

  • Evaluation

    • History

    • Observation

    • Palpation

    • Special tests

      • AROM, PROM, RROM (strong and painless - all muscles painful)

      • MMT (0-5)

      • Neurological

        • Cerebral function - general effect, loss of consciousness, emotional status, language

        • Cranial nerves

        • Cerebellar function - coordinated movements (finger to nose, heel to walk)

        • Sensory testing - dermatomes and myotomes

        • Reflexes (0-4 / absence of reflex - hyperactive)

          • Babinski's

          • Chaddock's

          • Oppenheim's

          • Clonus

        • Superficial reflexes

        • Motor testing

        • Referred pain

      • Joint stability

      • Accessory motions

      • Functional performance

      • Posture

      • Measurements
         

  • Progress evaluations

    • Comparing to the previous day, previous treatment, etc.

      • History

      • Observation

      • Special tests

Documentation

  • SOAP Notes

    • Subjective

      • Statements from the injured athletes

    • Objective

      • AT's findings but observation, testing, special tests, assessment

    • Assessment

      • Judgment on impression and nature of the injury

    • Plan

      • Immediate steps (treatment, referral) and/or plans for further treatment, rehab with goals

  • Progress notes

    • Written often

    • Treatment, responses to treatment, progress towards goals, and next steps

Diagnostic testing

  1. X-ray (plain film radiography) - fractures, bony abnormalities

  2. Arthrography - x-ray after injection with dye into joint space to observe joint

  3. Arthroscopy - a surgical procedure is done through a small incision

  4. Myelography - assessment of spinal canal with dye to flow through the spinal cord to detect tumors, disk issues, etc.

  5. CT scan (computed tomography) - view of tissues from many angles, cross-sectional views

  6. Bone scan - evaluate things like stress fractures using a radioactive tracer

  7. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - electromagnetic machine to help view clear images

  8. Ultrasonography - ultrasound to view organ or tissue damage

  9. Echocardiography - ultrasound to view cardiac structures

  10. Arteriogram - catheter inserted into a blood vessel with contrast and x-rays to evaluate

  11. Venogram - veins filled with contrast, x-ray to evaluate

  12. Doppler ultrasonography - ultrasound to examine blood flow in major arteries and veins (blood clots)

  13. ECG (electrocardiography) - electrical activity of the heart

  14. EEG (electroencephalography) - electrical waves in the brain

  15. EMG (electromyography) - records muscle contraction

  16. Nerve conduction velocity - speed at which a muscle action occurs

  17. Synovial fluid analysis - detects infection in joint

  18. Blood testing - various tests, CBC = complete blood count (RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, hematocrit, etc.)

  19. Urinalysis - evaluation of urine, specific gravity, pH, ketones, protein, electrolytes, etc.

Bloodborne Pathogens

  • Virus reproduction

    • A submicroscopic parasitic organism that depends on living cells -- > alters cell activity to create more virus

  • Bloodborne pathogens

    • Transmission - human blood, semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluids

    • Hepatitis B (HBV)

      • Swelling, soreness, and loss of normal liver function

    • Hepatitis C (HCV)

      • Can cause acute and chronic liver disease

      • Most common bloodborne infection in the US

      • Jaundice

    • Hepatitis A, D, E - not bloodborne pathogens

      • HAV - liver inflammation but does not lead to chronic liver disease (fecal or oral)

      • HDV - liver inflammation - only affects those that have HBC

      • HEV - liver inflammation, rare in the USA

    • HIV

      • Retrovirus changes cells' RNA

      • Transmitted by exposure to infected blood or other bodily fluids

      • Can develops into AIDS
         

  • In athletics

    • The probability of transmitting HIV among athletes is low but some sports might have a higher risk of transmission (wrestling, boxing)

    • OSHA guidelines and education important

    • HIV

      • Americans with Disabilities Act (1991) - athletes infected with HIV cannot be discriminated against and maybe excluded on a medical basis

      • Many states have laws that protect the confidentiality of someone with HIV

      • Athletes might be encouraged to do voluntary anonymous testing
         

  • Universal precautions

    • 1991 - OSHA standards

    • If an athlete has open wounds, they should be completely covered with appropriate barrier

    • When bleeding does happen, an athlete must be removed from the sport, cleaned, and covered; any uniform that has blood will likely need to be treated and removed

    • Personal precautions - gloves (double gloving for heavy bleeding), gowns, masks, eye protection, wash with soap and water

      • Be conscious of latex allergy

    • Supplies and equipment

      • Disinfectants

        • Surfaces - 10% bleach

        • Soiled towels and linens - washed separate from other laundry in hot water and detergent that deactivates the virus

      • Sharps

        • Red biohazard bin

    • Protection from exposure

      • Institution responsible for ensuring the safety of coach, athletic trainer; follow policies

      • Athlete - shower after activity; use mouthpieces

      • Postexposure - medical evaluation, if required

Psychosocial Response to InjuryTissue Response to Injury

Responses to Injury

  • Psychological

    • Psychological barriers to rehabilitation

      • Depression/grief

      • Anxiety

      • Anger/aggression

      • Denial

      • Sleep disturbances

      • Psychosocial isolation

      • Substance abuse

    • Length of rehabilitation vs reactions

      • <4 weeks (short) - reaction: shock, relief; reaction to rehab: impatience, optimism; reaction to return to sport: eagerness, anticipation

      • >4 weeks (long) - reaction: fear, anger; reaction to rehab: loss of vigor, irrational thoughts, alienation; reaction to return to sport: acknowledgment

      • Chronic - reaction: anger, frustration; reaction to rehab: dependence or independence, apprehension; reaction to return to sport: confidence or skepticism

      • career-ending - reaction: isolation, grief; reaction to rehab: loss of athletic identity; reaction to return to sport: closure, renewal

  • Sociological

    • Long-term rehab - athletes might feel that coaches and/or teammates do not want to be with them and that their social life depends on their rehab

      • Support level from coaches and/or teammates

    • Injured athletes might feel like they are not able to keep the same relationships they had prior to injury with teammates --> athletic identification

    • I no longer feel team camaraderie

    • Keep athlete involved in sports to feel less isolated and guilty about being away from the team and ability to help the team

    • Social support

      • Support groups

      • The supportive relationship between athlete and athletic trainer

      • Functional exercises to keep them engaged in sports

    • Athletic Trainer's Role

      • Good listening

      • Be conscious of body language

      • Caring image

      • Get to the root of the problem

      • Educate and explain the injury to the athlete

      • Help manage stress

      • Return to competition

Predictors of Injury

  • Injury-prone

    • Risk takers

      • Usually, try to reduce anxiety by being more aggressive or playing through injury

  • Stress

    • Positive and negative forces can disrupt the body's equilibrium

    • Negative stress decreases focus and increases muscle tension --> decreased flexibility, problems with coordination, and decreases movement efficiency

    • Physical response: increased cortisol

    • Emotional: performance declines and changes in personality; an athletic trainer can help

  • Overtraining

    • The imbalance between physical load and coping capacity

    • Staleness

      • Training too hard and long without adequate recovery, emotional problems, anxiety, outside stressors

      • Decreased performance, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, nausea, illness, anxiety

    • Burnout

      • Physical and emotional exhaustion leads to negative outcomes

      • Headaches, GI problems, sleep issues, chronic fatigue

Psychological Side of Injury and Rehabilitation

  • Athletic trainer response

    • Calm, reassuring, allow and encourage athletes to talk about how they are feeling, empathy

    • DO NOT tell the athlete they are not acting normal, pity, or be too abrupt

    • Catastrophic injury

      • Must evaluate the psychological side of the trauma and how the athlete is coping during treatment

    • How injury affects the athletic trainer

      • Athletic trainers are affected by their athlete's injury, both emotionally and psychologically

        • Relationship with team and athlete

        • Do not let emotions affect decision making

  • Rehabilitation process

    • Build rapport with athletes - trust is very important

    • Cooperation

    • Use rehab for education

    • Improve confidence

  • Difference phases of rehab

    • Immediately post-injury

      • Fear, denial, pain

      • Full evaluation of an athlete with the education of injury, treatment, plan, and process is important

    • Early preop

      • Explain the healing process and plan

      • Maintain some level of exercise for a non-injured body part

    • Postop/rehab

      • Continue to maintain some level of exercise of a non-injured body part

      • Increase athlete's confidence with milestones and positive reinforcement

      • Reassurance they will return to sport and be successful

    • Return to full play

      • Increased anxiety can lead to injury

      • Make sure athlete is vocal about how they are feeling

      • Baby steps

  • Goal setting

    • Short term goals are important

    • Goal setting --> motivation

    • Challenging but not unachievable

    • Positive reinforcement

    • Time management

    • Support

Mental Training and Barriers

  • Techniques

    • Anxiety

      • Meditation - focusing on a constant mental stimulus, turning away outside thoughts

      • Progressive relaxation - tense each muscle group for 5-7 seconds --> relax for 20-30 second, contraction gradually decreased --> mentally willing tension to zero

    • Cognitive

      • Refuting irrational thoughts - confronting irritation dialogue

      • Thought stopping - focus on unwanted thoughts and stop them with "stop."

      • Imagery - using a sense to create an experience in your mind

    • Coping with pain

      • Tension reduction - relaxation to reduce muscle tension, decreasing pain

      • Attention diversion - mental problem solving to divert pain

      • Altering pain sensation - turning from negative to positive imagination can counteract stress and help in wellness

    • Educated athletes on the physiological process of healing
       

  • Mood disorders

    • Depression - most common type of mood disorder; feeling normal to helplessness, loss of energy, guilt, changes in eating and sleeping

      • Bipolar/manic depression - excessive happiness/energy --> extreme depression

    • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - mood disorder surrounding certain seasons of the year; more likely to occur in winter because of less sunlight; fatigue, decreased concentration, more common in women
       

  • Anxiety disorders

    • Panic attacks - Unexpected; terror and fear --> behavior modification, medication

    • Phobias - persistent and irrational fear of something, an object, etc --> behavior modification, medication, desensitization
       

  • Personality disorder

    • Paranoia - unrealistic and unfounded fears of a person or thing

    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - emotional and behavioral symptoms --> recurrent feelings, impulses, thoughts

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - re-experiencing traumatic events --> insomnia, increased aggression --> group therapy can be helpful

End Feel and Laxity

Normal End Feels

  • Soft = soft-tissue approximation

    • Contact between soft tissue

    • Example: elbow flexion

  • Firm

    • Muscular stretch

      • Passive muscle stretch

      • Example: hip flexion

    • Capsular stretch

      • Passive stretch

      • Example: external rotation of shoulder, anterior glenohumeral joint capsule

    • Ligamentous stretch

      • Tension

      • Example: forearm supination

  • Hard = bone-to-bone

    • Contact between two structures

    • Example: elbow extension

Abnormal End Feels

  • Soft

    • When it occurs sooner or later in the ROM than usual

    • When it occurs in a joint that normally has a firm or hard end feel

      • Example: ligamentous tear

  • Firm

    • When it occurs sooner or later in ROM than usual

    • When it occurs in a joint that is normally has a soft or hard end feel

      • Example: muscular shortening

  • Hard

    • When it occurs sooner or later in ROM than usual

    • When it occurs in a joint that normally has a soft or firm end feel

    • When a bony block is felt

      • Example: chondromalacia, osteoarthritis

  • Empty

    • No end feel

    • Pain limits ROM

    • Muscle guarding

      • Example: fracture, bursitis 

Ligamentous Laxity

  • Grade I - firm

    • Slight stretching of the ligament

    • Little or no tearing of fibers

    • Pain

    • Stability equal bilaterally

  • Grade II - soft

    • Partial tearing of fibers

    • Joint line opens more when compared bilaterally

  • Grade III - empty

    • Complete tearing of ligament

    • Restricted motion by other joint structures

Reflexes

Superficial Reflexes

  • Upper abdominal

    • Umbilicus moves up and toward area being stroked

      • T7-T9

  • Lower abdominal

    • Umbilicus moves down and toward area being stroked

      • T11-T1

  • Cremasteric

    • Scrotum elevates

      • T12, L1

  • Plantar

    • Flexion of toes

      • S1

  • Gluteal

    • Skin tenses in the gluteal area

      • L4-L5, S1-S2

  • Anal

    • Anal sphincter muscle contract

      • S2-S4

Pathologic Reflexes

  • Babinski's

    • Stroke lateral aspect of sole of foot

      • Positive response = Big toe extension, fanning of four small toes

        • Pathology = pyramidal tract lesion

  • Chaddock's

    • Stroke lateral side of food beneath lateral malleolus

      • Positive response = Big toe extension, fanning of four small toes

        • Pathology = Organic hemiplegia

  • Oppenheim's

    • Stroke anteromedial tibial surface

      • Positive response = Big toe extension, fanning of four small toes

        • Pathology = Pyramidal tract lesion

  • Gordon's

    • Squeeze calf muscle firmly

      • Positive response = Big toe extension, fanning of four small toes

        • Pathology = Pyramidal tract lesion

  • Brudzinski's

    • Passive flexion of one lower limb

      • Positive response = Similar movement occurs in opposite limb

        • Pathology = Meningitis

  • Hoffman's

    • Flicking of terminal phalanx of index, middle, or ring finger

      • Positive response = Reflex flexion of distal phalanx of thumb and of distal phalanx of index or middle finger

        • Pathology = Increased irritability of sensory nerve in tetany ; pyramidal tract lesion

Deep Tendon Reflexes

  • Jaw

    • Mandible

      • Mouth closes

        • Cranial nerve V

  • Biceps

    • Biceps tendon

      • Biceps contraction

        • C5-C6

  • Brachioradialis

    • Brachioradialis tendon - distal to the musculotendinous junction

      • Elbow flexion and/or forearm pronations

        • C5-C6

  • Triceps

    • Distal triceps tendon - superior to olecranon process

      • Elbow extension/muscle contraction

        • C7-C8

  • Patella

    • Patellar tendon

      • Leg extension

        • L3-L4

  • Medial hamstrings

    • Semimembranosus tendon

      • Knee flexion/muscle contraction

        • L5-S1

  • Lateral hamstrings

    • Biceps femoris tendon

      • Knee flexion/muscle contraction

        • S1-S2

  • Tibialis posterior

    • Tibialis posterior tendon - behind medial malleolus

      • Plantar flexion with inversion

        • L4-L5

  • Achilles

    • Achilles tendon

      • Plantar flexion

        • S1-S2

Abnormal Vital Signs

Pulse

  • Rapid, weak

    • Shock

    • Internal hemorrhage

    • Hypoglycemia

    • Heat exhaustion

    • Hyperventilation

  • Rapid, bounding

    • Heat stroke

    • Fright

    • Fever

    • Hypertension

    • Apprehension

    • Hyperglycemia

    • Normal exertion

  • Slow, bounding

    • Skull fracture

    • Stroke

    • Drug use (barbiturates, narcotics)

    • Some cardiac problems

    • Some poisons

  • No pulse

    • Blocked artery

    • Low blood pressure

    • Cardiac arrest

Respiratory Rate

  • Shallow breathing

    • Shock

    • Heat exhaustion

    • Insulin shock

    • Chest injury

    • Cardiac problems

  • Irregular breathing

    • Airway obstruction

    • Chest injury

    • Diabetic coma

    • Asthma

    • Cardiac problems

  • Rapid, deep

    • Diabetic coma

    • Hyperventilation

    • Some lung diseases

  • Frothy blood

    • Lung damage (for example, puncture wound to the lung from a fractured rib)

  • Slowed breathing

    • Stroke

    • Head injury

    • Chest injury

    • Use of certain drugs

  • Wheezing

    • Asthma

  • Crowing

    • Larynx spasms

  • Apnea

    • Hypoxia

    • Congestive heart failure

    • Head injury

  • No breathing

    • Cardiac arrest

    • Poisoning

    • Drug abuse

    • Drowning

    • Head injury

    • Other injuries that are life threatening

Blood Pressure

  • Systolic = 100mm

    • Hypotension caused by:

      • Shock

      • Hemorrhage

      • Heart attack

      • Internal injury

      • Poor nutrition

  • Systolic = 140mm

    • Hypertension cause by:

      • Certain medical conditions

      • Oral contraceptives

      • Anabolic steroids

      • Amphetamines

      • Chronic alcohol use

      • Obesity

Skin Temperature

  • Dry, cool

    • Exposure to cold

    • Cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine injury

  • Cool, clammy

    • Shock

    • Internal hemorrhage

    • Trauma

    • Anxiety

    • Heat exhaustion

  • Hot, dry

    • Disease

    • Infection

    • High fever

    • Heat stroke

    • Overexposure to environmental heat

  • Hot, moist

    • High fever

  • Isolated hot spot

    • Localized infection

  • Cold appendage

    • Circulatory problem

  • "Goose pimples"

    • Chills

    • Communicable disease

    • Exposure to cold

    • Pain

    • Fear

Skin Color

  • Red

    • Embarrassment

    • Fever

    • Hypertension

    • Heat stroke

    • Carbon monoxide poisoning

    • Diabetic coma

    • Alcohol abuse

    • Infectious disease

    • Inflammation

    • Allergy

  • White or ashen

    • Emotional stress

    • Anemia

    • Shock

    • Heart attack

    • Hypotension

    • Heat exhaustion

    • Insulin shock

    • Insufficient circulation

  • Blue or cyanotic

    • Heart failure

    • Some severe respiratory disorders

    • Some poisoning

    • Bluish cast can also be seen in the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, inner eyelids, lips and nail beds

  • Yellow

    • Liver disease

    • Jaundice

Pupils

  • Constricted

    • Opiate-based drug use

    • Ingested poison

  • Unequal

    • Head injury

    • Stroke

  • Dilated

    • Shock

    • Hemorrhage

    • Heat stroke

    • Use of a stimulant drug

    • Coma

    • Cardiac arrest

    • Death

Skin

Anatomy

  • Epidermis

    • Barrier against invaders, foreign items, chemicals, and UV rays

    • Stratum corneum - stratum granulosum - stratum spinosum - stratum basale

      • Melanocytes - block solar radiation

      • Langerhans cells - recognize foreign substances and present to lymphocytes

  • Dermis

    • Connective tissue

    • Mechanical support to the epidermis

    • Houses blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands

    • Adnexal structures

      • Hair, sebaceous glands (secrete sebum), eccrine glands

    • Sweat glands

      • Responsible for cooling surface and internal organs

    • Nails

    • Sensory nerve endings

      • Sensation and recognize temperatures changes in pain

  • Subcutis - subcutaneous fat

    • Skin lesions

      • Cafe au lait spots - increase melanin

      • Cellulitis - infectious inflammation

      • Primary lesions

        • Macules

        • Papules

        • Plaques

        • Nodules

        • Tumors

        • Cysts

        • Wheals

        • Vesicles

        • Bullae

        • Pustules

      • Secondary lesions

        • Excoriations

Skin Trauma and Injuries

  • Friction/pressure

    • Hyperkeratosis - epidermal skin layer thickens from constant pressure

    • Blisters - raised skin filled with fluid due to friction

    • Soft corns and hard corns

    • Hyperhidrosis - excessive perspiration

    • Changing

    • Xerotic skin - dry skin

    • Ingrown toenails

  • Wounds

    • Abrasions - the top layer of skin

    • Punctures - tetanus bacillus

    • Lacerations - sharp object that disrupts tissues

    • Incisions - smooth cut

    • Avulsions - skin is torn away from the body

    • Bruises - ecchymosis

  • Allergic reactions

    • Contact dermatitis - allergy to irritant

    • Miliaria - prickly heat

    • Chilblains - Perino - from cold

  • Burns

    • Sunburn

  • Psoriasis

    • Chronic itching

  • Pityriasis rosea

    • Skin rash with no origin

Infections

  • Bacterial

    • Staphylococcus - gram-positive bacteria, seen in clumps

    • Streptococcus - gram-positive bacteria, seen in long chains

    • Impetigo - from streptococci

    • Furunculosis - boils

    • Carbuncles - early stages of furunculosis

    • Folliculitis - inflammation of hair follicle

    • Hidradenitis suppurative - inflammation of apocrine glands

    • Acne vulgaris - inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands

    • Paronychia and onychia - infection of proximal/lateral nail folds

    • Tetanus infections

  • Fungal

    • Ringworm

      • Tinea capitis - scalp

      • Tinea corporis - body

      • Tinea unguium/onychomycosis - nail

      • Tinea cruris - "jock itch"

      • Tinea pedis - athlete's foot

      • Tinea versicolor - yeast

      • Herpes simplex labialis, gladiatorum, herpes zoster

        • Type 1 - extragenital

        • Type 2 - genital

        • Gladiatorum - face, neck, shoulders - wrestlers

    • Verruca virus and warts

      • Common wart - verruca vulgaris and plana - hands of children

      • Plantar warts - soles of feet; can spread

      • Molluscum contagiosum - pox virus; very contagious

  • Infestations and bites

    • Scabies - mites (Sarcoptes scabiei)

    • Lice - pediculosis

      • Pediculus humanus capitis - head lice

      • Phthirus pubis - pubic lice

      • Pediculus humanus corporis - body lice

    • Fleas

    • Ticks - parasitic insect --> Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease

    • Mosquitoes

    • Stinging insects - bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets

    • Spider bite

      • Black widow and brown recluse cause most problems