Causes of Sports Injury

Thursday, 13 May 2021 9:39 PM Tensile Force stretches or pulls a tissue apart; if the force exceeds the tissue's yield
point, the tissue will tear or rupture causing a muscle strain.
It acts away from the center causing a pull or a stretch.
Injuries are damaged tissues that received stress or trauma more than what it can
resist or absorb. Compressive Force crushes the tissue, exceeding the tissue's ability to absorb or
disperse it, resulting in a contusion.
The tissues are able to withstand varying degrees of stress and strain but it will • Contusion is the medical term for a bruise. It is the result of a direct blow or an
break down if it experiences an impact that is stronger than what it can tolerate. impact, such as a fall. Contusions are common sports injuries. Most people think of
a bruise as a black-and-blue spot. This happens when small blood vessels get torn
Individuals who engage in various types of physical activities such as sports and and leak blood under the skin.
exercise have a higher risk of getting injured as compared to those who practice a It impacts the center causing it to bend or fold.
sedentary lifestyle. However, the potential benefits of an active lifestyle outweigh the
risks of suffering an injury Shear Forces are opposing forces toward the different ends of the structure. A force
that moves across the parallel orientation of fibers, which cause a breakdown or tearing
of tissue.
Factors that Affect the Ability of our Tissues: Opposing forces move toward different ends causing a twist.
• Inherent Abnormality
Bones do resist compressive strength while muscle-tendon units are strong at
• Age resisting tensile forces.
• Technique
It is important to understand the ability of the structures to resist or absorb forces.
• Fitness Level
Injuries in sports and fitness commonly affect the musculoskeletal structures.
• Equipment
• Environmental Aspects Musculoskeletal structure vary per density of its fiber, elastin and collagen
composition.
Structure Function Acute Injury
Tissues and organs react to the impact and direction of the force. Direction of forces
applied to musculoskeletal structures: Ligaments Stabilize Joints Sprain
Tendons Attaches muscles to bones Strain
Muscles Creates movements Strain
Bones Anchor for Muscles Fracture
Joints Fulcrum for Movement Dislocation

Three Types of Stress:

1. Tensile Force (Tension)
2. Compressive Force (Compression)
3. Shear Force

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Classification of Sports Injuries
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A. Acute Injuries have signs Injuries in sports and fitness commonly affect
the musculoskeletal structures like pain and swelling.
B. Chronic or Overuse Injuries occur after a long period of exposure to the
force.

Overuse Injuries are common among individuals who have been training for
a long period of time with minimal rest and recovery between sessions.
During training, the musculoskeletal structures receive higher loads than what
it is used to. However, the body has the ability to heal and recover from this,
given enough recovery time and nutrition.
Some individuals train too hard and too soon are not able to cope with the
increased demand resulting to microscopic injuries.
These microscopic injuries will accumulate overtime, resulting to overuse or
chronic injury.
Example: Stress Fractures, Tendinopathy, Osteoarthritis, and Bursitis.

Types of Overuse Injuries

1. Stage 1 - complain of pain only after the activity, game, or training
session.
2. Stage 2 - complain during and after an activity but do not feel it during
rest.
3. Stage 3 - the athlete feels pain whether at rest or play.

It is widely accepted that people engaging in sports or fitness training have a

higher risk of getting injured. Children and older people are also at higher risk
because of poor motor control and weak musculoskeletal structures.
Risk factors are classified as:
1. Non-modifiable (age, gender)
2. Modifiable (tournament rules, apparels)
3. Intrinsic (individual factors)
4. Extrinsic (environmental factors)

The most common intrinsic risk factor is muscle imbalance between

muscle pairs where the muscle become too tight. According to several
studies, obese individuals and those with poor fitness level have a higher risk
of getting injured. Studies also show that injuries are associated with age

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Swelling
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During acute injuries, the body will initiate the healing process through the
inflammatory response.
The inflammatory response removes the damaged tissue by increasing blood
flow and activating the lymphatic system to the injured site.

Lymphatic System is a network of tissues, vessels and organs that work

together to move a colorless, watery fluid called lymph back into your
circulatory system (your bloodstream).

Swelling occurs due to fluid accumulation as a result of increased blood flow

and blood vessel permeability.

Aside from swelling, inflammation is also characterized by pain, redness and

warmth. During inflammation, special cells remove the damaged tissue to
provide a foundation where new tissue can grow.

The entire healing process takes several months to a year to complete. There
are factors that may prolong the healing period such as too much swelling,
limited blood supply, old age and weak muscle strength.

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Common Sports Injuries
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C. Fracture is a broken bone. A bone may be completely fractured or partially fractured in any number of ways (crosswise,
lengthwise, in multiple pieces). Most common fractures are located at the upper limbs such as the hand and forearm.
Fractures are common in growing bones because it is less dense.
Most Common Sports Injuries There are also higher number of fractures in upper extremities because it is not as strong and compact as the bones in the
lower extremities.
A. Sprain is an overstretched ligament. It is also known as torn ligament. The ligament stabilized
and limit joint mobility. When the joint is forced into a position that is beyond its normal range, it Fractures in the upper limb occur when individuals support their weight using their hands when they fall or slip.
will overstretched the ligament.
The severity of sprain ranges from a minor injury which resolves in a few days to a major rupture Types of Fractures:
of one or more ligaments requiring surgical fixation and a period of immobilization.
Sprains can occur in any joint but are most common in the ankle and knee.
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most commonly sprained ligament. ACL is a
connective tissue that helps stabilize the knee every time the muscle contract
Signs and Symptoms
a. Pain
b. Swelling
c. Bruising
d. Decreased ability to move the limb
e. If a ligament ruptures, one may hear a popping sound
f. Difficulty using the affected extremity

Classification of Sprains
1. First Degree Sprain is a sprain wherein the fibers of the ligament are stretched but intact.
2. Second Degree Sprain is a tear of part of a ligament, from a third to almost all its fibers.
3. Third Degree Sprain is a complete rupture of the ligament, sometimes avulsing a piece of
bone.

B. Strain is a twist, pull, or tear of muscle or tendon (a cord of tissue that connects the muscle to D. Dislocation commonly occurs in joints that allow greater range of motion. Most common dislocations are located at the
the bone. It is also an acute, non-contact injury that results from overstretching or over upper limbs such as the shoulder and elbow.
contraction. Dislocation occurs when the bone is pushed out of the proper alignment, the injury will cause a deformity and constant
A strain is an injury to a muscle in which the muscle fibers tear as a result of overstretching. A pain.
strain is also colloquially known as a pulled muscle or torn muscle. The most common strains
are located at lower limbs such as the hamstring and calf muscle.
An individual who suffers a strain will feel a sudden sharp pain at the muscle belly.
Sign and Symptoms
a. Localized Stiffness
b. Discoloration
c. Bruising around the strained muscle.

Strain vs. Sprain

E. Concussions are life-threatening injuries because they disrupt the normal function of the brain. It is a violent jarring or
shaking that results in a disturbance of brain function.
A are life-threatening injuries because they disrupt the normal function of the brain. As the blood leaks out of the ruptured
blood vessels, it will accumulate inside the skull. As the volume of blood increases, the pressure inside the skulls starts to
build up
The accumulated blood will put pressure on the brain, blocking the blood supply to different areas of the brain. If the
condition is not resolved immediately, the brain starts to die.
It is important for the individual to go to a medical facility as soon as possible so the injury will not worsen.
What causes a concussion?
Your brain is a soft organ that is surrounded by spinal fluid and protected by your hard skull. Normally, the fluid around
your brain acts like a cushion that keeps your brain from banging into your skull. But if your head or your body is hit hard,
your brain can crash into your skull and be injured.
There are many ways to get a concussion. Some common ways include fights, falls, playground injuries, car crashes, and
bike accidents.
Concussions can also happen while participating in any sport or activity such as football, boxing, hockey, soccer, skiing, or
snowboarding.

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Most Common Chronic Injuries
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Tendinopathy or Tendinitis is a chronic tendon injury with no implication about etiology.
Tendinitis injuries are common in the upper shoulder and lower section of the elbow and
are less common in the hips and torso.
Chronic Injury can be also called overuse injuries. It is caused by overuse of Individual variation in frequency and severity of tendinitis will vary depending on the type,
particular part of your body either through sports or exercises. They develop frequency and severity of exercise or use. It is usually due to muscle imbalance between
slowly and last a long time. Their symptoms are mild compared to acute muscle pairs.
injuries and the pain they cause are also little
This causes the patient to ignore the injury and carry on with their activities.
over time, it will build up and cause more problems.
Common Symptoms of Chronic Injuries:
• Experiencing pain whenever you engage in sporting activities
• Swelling after each game
• Constant aching when you are not doing anything.
Most Common Chronic Injuries:
• Stress Fracture
• Tendinopathy / Tendinitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of a joint that results to its deterioration. The friction
Stress Fracture is a small crack in a bone, or severe bruising within a bone. deteriorates the cartilage that protects the bones from rubbing against each other.
Most stress fractures are caused by over use and repetitive activity, and are The knee joint is the common site for the degenerative changes that occur in the cartilage.
common in runners and athletes who participate in running sports, such as An individual feels pain and a grinding sensation as it worsens. The condition further
soccer, and basketball. aggravates when the individual is overweight or obese.
It usually occurs when people change their activities — such as by trying a
new exercise, suddenly increasing the intensity of their workouts, or changing
the workout surface.

Bursitis is the inflammation or irritation of the bursa. The bursa is a sac filled with
lubricating fluid, located between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin, that
decreases rubbing, friction, and irritation.
Bursitis is most often caused by repetitive, minor impact on the area, or from a sudden,
more serious injury. Age also plays a role. as tendons age they are able to tolerate stress
less, are less elastic, and are easier to tear.

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