Common injuries during recreation
- 3. Sprains • A stretch or tear of a ligament, the band of connective tissues that joins the end of one bone with another • Caused by trauma such as fall or a plow to the body that knocks a joint out of position • Ex. Ankles, knees, and wrists • Varying degrees of tenderness/pain, bruising, inflammation, swelling, inability to move a limb or join, laxity/instability
- 5. Strains • A twist, pull or tear of a muscle of a tendon – a cord of tissue aconnecting muscle to bone. An acute, non-contact injury that resuls from overstretching/ overcontraction • Pain, muscle spasm and loss of strength
- 6. Knee Injuries • Result from a blow to or a twist to the knee, from improper landing after a jump or from running too hard, too much or without proper warm up.
- 8. Fractures • A break in the bone that can occur from whether a quick, one-time injury to the bone (acute fracture) or from repeated stress to the bone over time (stress fracture) • Pain at the site that worsens with weight bearing activities, tenderness and swelling
- 10. Dislocations • Two bones that come together to form a joint become separated • Contact sports and high impart sports can result to excessive stretching or falling
- 11. Common Symptoms • Pain • Swelling • Bruising • Difficult and painful movement deformity • A pop, snap or a tear can be felt or heard
- 13. First Aid for Sprains and Strains • Apply PRICE Method • Do not apply heat during the 1st 2 days to decrease swelling • Use paracetamol for 1st day of injury to reduce pain without increasing bleeding. Thereafter, use ibuprofen/aspirin. Do not give aspirin if below 16 years old. • Arnica oil works to reduce swelling • Remove any obstruction immediately around the injury • After 48 hours, start moving limb gently as long as it does not cause pain • Gradually increase the range of movement Strains heal in a week. Sprains may take up to 3 weeks
- 14. First Aid for Fractures • Apply PRICE method • Keep limb in the position you found it and place soft padding around the broken bones. Splint injury with something rigid. If there is an open fracture, cover it with clean gauze pad.Apply pressure to control bleeding. Do not try to push back the bone/ attempt to clean it • Get medical attention immediately • Do not give victim anything to eat or drink
- 15. See a doctor if: • Injury is a fracture or dislocation • Unsure of the severity of sprain or strain • Cannot straighten affected joint or joint feels unstable • Skin over injury is broken • Limb below feels numb or tingling, white/ pale/blue/ feels colder • Ligaments of knee • Area has been injured several times before • Pain is severe & lasts longer that 24 hours or swelling does not subside in 48 hours • Sprain or strain does not improve after 7 days • Signs of infection develop
- 16. Quiz