Muscle Injuries*Symptoms

*Classification of Injuries

SHMD 2499/05/2012

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Classification of Injuries

• 3 degrees of severity of injury:

1. First degree:

• least severe

• Minor stretching of ligaments/tendons/muscle

• Mild pain

• Some swelling & joint stiffness

• Very little loss of joint stability

Classification of Injuries

2. Second degree:

• Moderate stretching & tearing of some ligaments/tendons/muscle

• Increased swelling & pain

• Increased loss of range of motion

• Moderate loss of joint stability

Classification of Injuries3. Third degree:

• Most severe

• Complete tear/rupture of one or more ligaments/tendons/muscle

• Massive swelling & severe pain

• Complete loss of range of motion

• Complete loss of joint stability

Classification of Injuries

• Traumatic Injuries

This injury is the result of a specific incident

and it occurs immediately.

• Overuse Injuries

This injury is the result of unaccustomed or

excessive, repetitive movements or

activities.

Classification of Injuries

• There are common causes of overuse injuries:

– Poor general fitness and flexibility

– Using incorrect techniques while performing certain activity

– Unprepared, sudden increase or change in activity

– Poor environment or unsuitable equipment

– And the most common causes of soft tissue

injury are: too much, too often, too soon.

Symptoms

• Pain & swelling most common symptoms – cause decreased

functionality.

• Bruising can also be expected.

• Swelling & bruising are the result of ruptured blood vessels,

and this will in turn produce heat & inflammation.

• Injured area may look red & feel hot as blood vessels in

damaged area dilate.

Symptoms

• Inflammation:

– Is the body’s protection mechanism.

– Stops/restricts movement to prevent further damage from occurring

while the body repairs itself.

– Prevents ‘toxins’ from spreading throughout the rest of the body.

• Too much of an inflammatory response in the early stage can mean

that the healing process takes longer and a return to activity is

delayed.

Repair

• 12 hours – 4 days:

– Body’s clotting mechanism seals the end of torn blood

vessels so that further blood plasma cannot escape into

surrounding tissues.

– Cells become active & new capillary blood vessels buds form

& gradually establish a new circulation in the area.

– Absorption of swelling.

– Removal of debris and blood clot.

– Development of initial fibrous scar tissue.

Scar Tissue

• Damaged tissue is repaired by ‘scar tissue’.

• Scar tissue has ‘plastic’ properties: it can be stretched & ‘molded’.

• Scar is not elastic like muscle & will form in a haphazard pattern: ‘kinks &

curls’ which will contract & shorten if not stretched daily for a few months

after injury.

• Very important for scar tissue to be stretched and from parallel ‘lines’ to

give the muscle strength.

• Stretching ensures the scar is molded to the desired length & improve the

strength of the healed ‘scar’.

• Thus reducing the risk of re-injury.

Psychological Response To Injury

• Response varies:

– From person to person.

– Within an individual alone.

• Depending on when injury occurs:

– Start/middle of training season.

– During major competition.

Psychological Response To Injury

• Initial reaction is negative, but positive attitudes may be formed.

• May give individual more personal time with family & friends, time

to develop new skills (e.g. coaching), or work on other aspects of

their performance.

• Some individuals struggle

with negative feelings, while

most cope without great difficulty.

Psychological Response To Injury

• Early Reactions:– Shock– Disbelief

• Followed by further responses:– Denial– Anger– Depression– Tension– Helplessness– Acceptance– Adaptation– Re-organization

Revision Questions

1. Compare, in tabular form, the different degrees of severity.

15

2. Differentiate between ‘traumatic’ & ‘overuse’ injuries. 4

3. List 4 common causes of overuse injuries.

4

4. What is the role of inflammation in the body? 4

5. Describe the process of repair the body goes through when healing.

8

6. Why is it important to stretch after an injury occurs? 3

7. List, in order, the different responses an athlete goes through after an

injury occurs. 10