Acute & Chronic Injuries

• Acute Injuries

  occurs as a result of a sudden incidents during an event
• Chronic Injuries

  occur over a period of time, associated with repetitive/continuous overuse or strain

  often caused by increase in intensity, decrease in recovery or poor technique/warm up
• Hard Tissue Injuries

  damage involving bones, joints & cartilage, can cause internal bleeding & circulatory problems
• Soft Tissue Injuries

  sprains & strains of muscles, tendons & ligaments, can cause inflammatory & bruising
• Fractures

  a hard tissue injury where a break or crack in the bone occurs due to excessive force from a collision/object due to poor landing/technique

  SYMPTOMS- pain, inability to move, deformity, swelling, discolouration
• Dislocations

  the displacement of one bone from another, out of their original position

  it can be from direct or indirect force where the joint is pushed past its normal range of motion

  SYMPTOMS - severe pain, loss of movement, visible deformity
• Compound Fractures (open)

  where the skin is broken & the bone may protrude through, increasing the risk of infection
• Simple Fractures (closed)

  the surrounding skin is unbroken, injury to internal tissue may cause swelling
• Types of Fractures

  • greenstick - bone bends & partially breaks, doesn't completely separate the bone
  • comminuted - bone shatters into 3 or more pieces, long recovery
  • transverse - fracture goes more or less straight across the bone
  • incomplete - partial crack in bone that doesn't completely separate it
  • complete - a total break in bone, separating into one or more fragments
  • avulsion - a bone fragment detached at the site of connective tissue attachment
  • impacted - a break caused by the ends of a bone being compressed together
• Subluxation

  an incomplete or partial dislocation
• Stress Fracture

  a hairline crack on the surface of a bone, caused by repeated or prolonged forces against the bone
• Sprain

  • an overstretch or tear in the ligament that connects bone to bone
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by a sudden twist or an impact/fall that forces joint beyond its extreme range of motion

  SYMPTOMS - pain, swelling, bruising, inability to weight bear
• Strain

  • an overstretch or tear in the muscle or tendon that connects muscle to bone
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by overstretching a particular area or contracting muscle fibre too quickly

  SYMPTOMS - pain on movement, swelling, discolouration, brusing
• Abrasions

  • superficial damage to the skin caused by a scraping action against a surface
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by scraping against a playing surface

  SYMPTOMS - blood, pain, soreness
• Contusions (haematoma)

  • an area of skin or tissue in which the blood vessels have ruptured or torn
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by a fall or direct impact

  
  

  SYMPTOMS - pain, swelling, discolouration
• Blisters

  • friction forming separation of layers of skin where a pocket of fluid forms
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by friction

  SYMPTOMS - bubble filled with fluid, pain
• Concussion

  • a traumatic brain injury resulting in a disturbance of brain function
  • acute soft tissue injury
  • caused by a fall or blow to the head

  SYMPTOMS - headache, nausea, confusion, blurry vision
• Tendinosis

  • the deterioration of a tendon in response to chronic overuse & repetitive strain
  • chronic soft tissue injury
  • caused by repetitive strain

  
  

  SYMPTOMS - burning, stinging, aching, tenderness
• Achilles Tendinosis

  • pain & deterioration of the tendon in the heel due to over use & repetitive strain
  • chronic soft tissue injury
  • cause by repetitive strain

  
  

  SYMPTOMS - pain, tightness, pain when using stairs
• Tennis Elbow

  • tendon pain in the forearm due to chronic overuse & repetitive strain
  • chronic soft tissue injuries
  • caused by repetitive strain from twisting action

  SYMPTOMS - pain, tightness, limited movement
• Shin Splints

  • chronic shin pain due to inflammation of muscles & stress of the tendon attachments to the surface of the tibia
  • chronic soft tissue injuries
  • caused by excess weight, inadequate footwear, poor technique training load

  SYMPTOMS - pain