SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
TEARS AND STRAINS
Tears or strains occur when a muscle or tendon is over-stretched and torn, quite often as an indirect injury.
Signs and symptoms include:
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Pain with movement
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Swelling (occurs straight away)
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Bruising (may appear rapidly or within a few hours)
There are three grades of hamstring injuries. These are:
Grade 1: A mild muscle strain. Usually recovers within a few days
Grade 2: Partial muscle tear
Grade 3: A complete muscle tear or the tear of an attachment. This can take weeks or months to heal.
EXAMPLE
A hamstring tear is the most commonly occurring tear/strain injury. The hamstring is made up of strong bands of tissue on the back of the thighs and can tear with abrupt movements such as jumping, lunging or sprinting.
For example, a basketball player jumps in the air to shoot. The explosive, upward force of the movement places strain on the hamstring, immediately causing ligament tears (partial muscle tear).
Basketball layups 2017, Photograph, Stack.com, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.stack.com/a/backhand-layup>.
Hamstring injuries explained 2017, Photograph, Shutter stock, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://theconversation.com/usain-bolt-and-andre-de-grasse-hamstring-injuries-explained-82431>.
SPRAINS
Sprains occur when the joint is forced beyond the normal range of motion, resulting in the stretching or tearing of ligaments.
Signs and symptoms include:
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Inability to put weight on the injured limb
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Swelling
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Bruising
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Pain
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Medial ligament sprain occurs from stress from the side.
They occur in the midline of the knee joint, where there is an impact from the side. For example, a rugby player is tackled from the side. He lands irregularly on his knee, spraining the its midline.
Example 2: Cruciate ligament tears (ACL tears) occur from a stress in the inward direction. For example, a basketball player comes down from a lay – up. The forward pressure on the femur tears the ligaments in the centre of the knee (the cruciate ligament).
Example 3: A sprained ankle. This occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. For example, a gymnast completing a floor sequence. As they come out of an aerial, they land irregularly on their ankle, tearing the ligaments that support it.
MEDIAL LIGAMENT SPRAIN
What to know about MCL tears 2019, Photograph, MedicalNewsToday, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324738>.
CRUCIATE LIGAMENT SPRAIN
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries 2014, Photograph, OrthoInfo, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries>.
SPRAINED ANKLE
How bad is my ankle sprain? 2014, Photograph, Stack, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.stack.com/a/how-severe-is-my-sprained-ankle>.
CONTUSIONS
Contusions are caused by sudden, harsh impact to the body, which causes internal bleeding. (Bruise).
Signs and symptoms include:
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Pain at the site
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Swelling
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Bruising
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Difficulty breathing
EXAMPLE
Contusions can be caused by a big hit, for example, a hit to the head in a boxing match. This may result in a concussion. Severe or repeated concussions can cause contusions to the brain, and with this immense amount of pressure, lead to long - term brain damage.
Boxers with the best hand speed 2013, Photograph, Bleacher report, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1785095-ranking-the-10-boxers-with-the-best-hand-speed>.
Horrific eye injuries 2018, Photograph, Manchester Evening News, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/boxing/injury-sam-hyde-bellew-undercard-15399373>.
ABRASIONS
Abrasions may occur from landing on a hard, dry surface such as concrete or an indoor court. Making a tackle in football or coming off a bike may be a causation of an abrasion. They should be immediately cleaned to remove embedded material.
EXAMPLE
For example, a bike rider completing a triathlon loses balance and falls off his bike. The impact he experiences with the ground causes multiple abrasions to his face and other areas of his body.
Crashing your bike 2019, Photograph, Velosurance, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://velosurance.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-crashing-your-bike/>.
LACERATIONS
A laceration is a wound where the flesh has incurred an irregular tear. It should be cleaned, and a sterile pad applied. Pressure may need to be applied to stop the bleeding.
EXAMPLE
An Ice Hockey player collides with another team member, falling on the ice. The athlete lands on the blade of the other athlete's skate which creates a deep laceration on the side of the face.
Hockey players always close to razors edge of injury 2009, Photograph, The Denver Post, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.denverpost.com/2009/12/01/hockey-players-always-close-to-razors-edge-of-injury/>.
Awful hockey injuries 2014, Photograph, Mental Floss, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56238/13-awful-hockey-injuries>.
BLISTERS
Blisters are caused by an accumulation of fluid below the skin. They may from friction with repeated use of equipment or from new equipment.
EXAMPLE
A rower experiences friction from the repeated forward and backward action of the arms when moving the oars. This friction causes blisters to form on the hands.
Awful hockey injuries 2014, Photograph, Mental Floss, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56238/13-awful-hockey-injuries>.
Blisters on feet 2020, Photograph, Health line, viewed 26 November 2020, <https://www.healthline.com/health/blisters-on-feet>.
FOOTNOTES
Soft tissue injuries, 2020, Edrolo, viewed 1 November 2020, <https://edrolo.com.au/class/913036/lesson/24267/1/>.