Types of injury

• Acute injury.

  A sudden injury caused by a specific impact or traumatic event where a sharp pain is felt immediately. E.g. fractures, dislocations, strains and sprains.
• Chronic injuries.

  Often referred to as over-use injures e.g. stress fractures, achilles tendonitis.
• What is the difference between an acute injury and a chronic injury? Use examples when you explain your answer. (4)

  An acute injury occurs suddenly during exercise or competition. Pain is felt immediately and is often severe e.g. fractured bone.

  
  

  A chronic injury occurs after playing sport or exercise for a long time. They are often called overuse injuries e.g. achilles tendonitis.
• Explain why an elite performer may suffer from achilles tendonitis. (3)

  • Achilles tendonitis is a chronic injury.

  • It occurs after playing sport or doing exercise for a long time/overuse injury.

  • It causes pain and inflammation of the Achilles tendon located at the back of the ankle.

  • This is used for walking, running and jumping

  • so when an elite performer does a lot of

  training it can be prone to tendonitis.
• Simple or closed fracture


  A clean break to a bone that does not penetrate the skin or damage any surrounding tissue.
• Compound or open fracture

  When soft tissue or skin has been damaged. This is more serious as there is a higher risk of infection.
• Dislocation


  When the ends of bones are forced out of position. It occurs at joints.
• Sprain


  Occurs to ligaments when they stretch too far.
• Strains


  When muscle fibres are stretched too far or tear.
• Achilles tendonitis


  Pain and inflammation of the tendon.
• Stress fractures


  When muscles become fatigued and are no longer able to absorb the added shock of exercise. The fatigued muscle eventually transfers the stress overload to the bone and the result is a tiny crack. The area becomes tender and swollen.
• Tennis elbow


  Occurs in the muscles attached to the elbow that are used to straighten the wrsit and the muscled and tendons become inflamed and tiny tears occur on the outside of the elbow. The area becomes very sore and tender due to the repeated stress on the elbow.