Understanding Sports Injuries

Study Notes

A sports injury is defined as damage to the body's tissues resulting from any form of physical activity, including sports or exercise.
Sports injuries affect the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and other tissues. These structures provide the body with stability and enable movement.

Sport injuries are categorized into acute injuries and overuse injuries.
This classification depends on the injury mechanism and the onset of symptoms.
Acute injuries occur suddenly with a clear cause or onset.
They are frequently seen in sports with high speeds and a risk of falling (like downhill skiing).
Acute injuries are also common in team sports with high contact (such as hockey and soccer).
Overuse injuries develop gradually.

Overuse injuries are common in aerobic activities like long-distance running, bicycling, or cross-country skiing.
These injuries occur in sports with repeated movements, such as tennis, weightlifting, or high jumping.
The repetitive low-grade forces over time in these sports lead to microtrauma, resulting in overuse injuries.
Pain and tissue injury can develop over time before noticeable symptoms appear.
Often, the tissue heals without obvious symptoms, but repeated overuse can exceed the tissue's repair ability, potentially resulting in an injury.

The body adapts to specific physical training loads.
Loading that exceeds the body's adaptation causes tissue to try to adapt to the new load.
Excessive training load can lead to injuries (too much, too often, too quickly, and with too little rest).
Increased training duration, intensity, and frequency can also contribute to overuse injuries.
These often occur simultaneously, like at the start of a season or during training camps.
Immobilization weakens tissue properties, while exercise strengthens it.

Several types of bone injuries exist.
The three most common bone injuries are acute fractures (from sudden force), stress fractures, and bone contusions.

Simple/Nondisplaced Fractures:
- The bone fragments are aligned.
- Often referred to as hairline fractures.
Displaced Fractures:
- Bone fragments are separated.
Impacted Fractures:
- One part of the broken bone is driven into another, potentially shortening the bone.
Compound/Open Fractures:
- The bone breaks through the skin, potentially with accompanying skin injuries.

Severe injuries involving both a break in a bone and damage to ligaments and muscles.
This results in displaced joints and gross abnormalities in the joint, requiring concern about a fracture.