Injury
An injury is harm or damage done to the body as a result of mishaps, excessive use, or other circumstances. Injuries can range from moderate, short-term discomfort to more serious, long-term harm that impairs physical functionality and health.
Sports Injury
A sports injury is a form of injury that is specifically sustained when engaging in athletic activity or playing a sport. These wounds may develop as a result of collisions, poor technique, repetitive motions, or mishaps when engaging in sports-related activities.
Rehabilitation
An individual’s physical health, functionality, and general well-being are all things that can be restored through the systematic and thorough process of rehabilitation following an illness or injury. In the context of sports, rehabilitation focuses on assisting players in recovering from sports injuries and includes procedures, exercises, and therapies intended to help athletes restore the power, flexibility, and abilities necessary for peak performance.
There are two types of Injuries.
- Intrinsic injury
- Extrinsic injury
Intrinsic injury
In this type of injury, athletes get injured due to their own mistakes by using the wrong technique and performance. It can be easily pre-estimated. e.g., abrasion of the hand in gymnastics, ankle twist in long jumpers.
Intrinsic injuries can be again divided into two categories:
Overuse injury
Generally, of gradual onset. They occur in the first instance as a slight ache or nagging pain, related to a particular movement pattern and not noticeable at other times. If the activity is continued, the pain becomes increasingly severe, to the point where it causes loss of function.
Traumatic injury
A traumatic injury may happen suddenly, despite having no obvious cause. e.g., Achilles tendon rupture
Extrinsic injury
In this type of injury, athletes get injured from other or outer forces like combat games, team games, equipment, etc.
Again, extrinsic injuries can be divided into:
Exposed injury
The exposed injury is where the skin is injured, and the deeper structures are visible. Or
Any condition that is external in nature and results in the exposure of superficial and underlying tissues is considered an exposed wound.
Unexposed injury
Unexposed injuries are those where the skin is intact, but the deeper tissues are injured. Or
In this type, even though it may be factored in an external force that does not break the skin and is of an internal nature, it is considered to be an unexposed wound.
Common pre- disposing factors
- Fatigue and overload Excessive repetition of an activity or excessive weight loading within an activity can cause localized fatigue, leading to tissue breakdown.
- Previous incomplete rehabilitation injury.
- Muscle tightness and soreness may be due to fatigue, a cold, a previous injury, cramp episodes, excessive exercises, tension, a viral infection, congenital inflexibility, or insufficient training.
- Muscle imbalance, which may arise through injury or inappropriate.
- Muscles strain, which may be due to previous injuries or inadequate training.
- Joint limitation.
- Poor and inadequate technique.
- Inappropriate equipment.
- Inadequate body preparation, whether for each session or over all for the sports.
- Inappropriate choice of sports.
Role of trained personnel in the management of sports
- When an injury is sustained in sports, it should be completely treated by trained or qualified personnel.
- The athletes are highly specialized and motivated individuals who might have certain goals and objectives for themselves. Therefore, the correct treatment at the correct time must be provided; otherwise, their muscles atrophy and their strength is also reduced.
- A trained and qualified person understands the nature and severity of injury, and accordingly, effective first aid and other treatment can be given to injured athletes.
- The sportsperson requires a complete and 100% recovery after injury, and as such, proper treatment by a qualified person must be given.
- The trained person can help in the proper and safe transportation of an injured athlete in case of severe injury and also decide whether the athlete needs the stretcher.
- The trained person also understands the mechanism of injury as well as its complications and, therefore, can help prevent further damage to the already injured body tissues.
- The trained personnel can help with first aid as well as the use of various therapeutic modalities and rehabilitation exercises.
- The trained personnel can help guide the athlete on how much activity load can be taken by him or her upon gradually being exposed to the activity as healing takes place.
- The qualified personnel can maintain the fitness of the injured body part as well as the existing strengths and flexibility of the injured body part as permitted by the injury, providing a complete recovery.
- The trained personnel may help in protecting the injured body part while allowing him the resumption of the sports activities, and as such, the recurrence of injury can be prevented.
- The trained personnel understand when the injured athlete should be allowed to re-participate in competitive sports only after his/her complete rehabilitation.
- The trained personnel keep the injured athlete very well motivated during the treatment and rehabilitation.
- The trained personnel understand the level of repair of the injuries and the manner in which treatment is provided.
Complication of incomplete treatment
- Whenever an injury takes place, it must be completely treated and rehabilitated by a qualified person. After an injury, the athlete must be sent to the sports field only when the injury is completely treated, and rehabilitation is complete.
- The athlete must be completely fit in terms of all the required parameters of fitness. Including strength, flexibility, endurance, etc.
- An injury that remains incompletely treated presents symptoms of pain and swelling, reduces strength and flexibility, and ultimately reduces the optimum functional performance.
- An injury that is not completely treated has a higher chance of causing repeated injuries to the same body part.
- An injury that is incompletely treated takes longer to repair, and sometimes injuries that can be treated easily with a simple method require a difficult and complicated procedure.
- Swelling and pain occur.
- Performance will go down
- Take longer to recover.
- Chances of other injury
- Injuries can be repeated
Classification of sports injuries
Skin injury
- Abrasion
- Laceration
- Blisters
- Fungal infection
- Boils
- callus
Muscles injury
- Muscles contusion
- Muscles strain
- Tendon rupture
- Tendinitis
- Ligaments injuries(sprain)
- Hematoma
Bone injury
- Fractures
- Stress fracture
Joint injury
- Dislocation
- Hemarthrosis