Sports Medicine Ankle Sprains
The most common type of ankle injury is a sprain. A sprain is stretching and tearing of ligaments (fibrous bands connecting
adjacent bones in a joint.) There are many ligaments around the ankle and these can become damaged when the ankle is forced
into a postion not normally encountered.
The most frequently seen sprain occurs when weight is applied to a foot which is on an uneven surface, and the foot "rolls in"
(inversion). Because the sole of the foot is pointing inward as force is applied, the ligaments stabilizing the lateral - or outside -
part of the ankle are stressed. Many patients report hearing a "snap" or "pop" at the time of the injury. This is usually followed
by pain and swelling on the lateral aspect of the ankle.
THE MOST IMPORTANT INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF A SPRAIN IS,
R - rest
I - ice
C - compression
E - elevation
Many of the problems resulting from sprains are due to blood and edema in and around the ankle. Minimizing swelling helps the
ankle heal faster. The RICE regimen facilitates this.
Rest - no weight bearing for the first 24 hours after the injury (Possibly longer, depending upon severity)
Ice - apply ice packs using a towel over a plastic bag to the area that is painful. Be careful to avoid frostbite. Ice should
be intermittantly applied for the first 24 hours.
Compression - an ACE bandage or other soft elastic material should be applied to the ankle to help prevent the
accumulaton of edema.
Elevation - elevating the ankle helps in removing edema. By having the foot higher than the hip (or heart), gravity is used
to pull edema out of the ankle.
In the initial 24 hours, it is very important to avoid things which might increase swelling.
Avoid
1.hot showers
2.heat rubs (methylsalicylate counterirritants such as "Ben Gay", etc..
3.hot packs
Sometimes the UCL will weaken and stretch (technically a sprain), making it incompetent. Other times a catastrophic stress will cause the structure to "pop" or blow out. The injury isn't tremendously painful, and it can be incredibly diffic...
Achilles tendinopathy and its contributing pathologies has been a heavily researched topic throughout multiple professions. Although a unified consensus and classification on the underlying pathology is yet to be reached, a shift from the term tendinitis to tendinosis has slowly been adopted, and is now believed to follow a continuum. Previous incorrect belief of an inflammatory pathophysiology has lead to the development of treatment options that are inappropriate and unsuccessful, leaving the tendon unable to adequately heal or strengthen increasing its risk of repetitive re-injury and the development of chronic Achilles tendinopathy. As a result an understanding of the pathophysiology, its effect on lower limb function and biomechanical risk factors contributing to the development of Achilles tendinopathy need to be considered when developing a rehabilitation program to coincide with new research and to address the underlying degeneration and failed healing of the tendon.
Icing and elevating the foot help keep the swelling down in the foot. Doing excises like calf raises will help streghthen the muscles around the
Intra articular fractures of calcaneus occurs following eccentric loading of the talus on the calcaneus.(fig 5.1) The severity, type and location of fracture are determined by the position of the foot, the direction and magnitude of applied force and quality of bone 49.
This article is about the results of a survey conducted by three PhD’s; Janet Simon, Matthew Donahue, and Carrie Docherty, and was published by the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. The purpose of the survey was to determine Athletic Trainers current utilization of ankle support, and to determine ATs current attitudes towards the use of ankle taping and bracing. It gives some history and benefits of ankle bracing and taping, and how it has become a multimillion dollar industry, considering that 66-73% of all college athletes have reported an ankle sprain. Also, a third of people with ankle sprains will either re-sprain the ankle or report feelings of instability after the initial sprain. Ankle taping has become essential part of sports medicine,
ACL Injuries in Athletes The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) attaches the femur, which is the thighbone, and the tibia, which is the shin, together (northstar). A torn ACL is one of the most excruciating experiences in an athlete’s life. It is the first thing that comes to mind when they hurt their knee on the field; for many it is their greatest fear. A torn ACL can sometimes mean the end of an athlete’s career.
The most common way to tear the A.C.L is by violently twisting the knee. This can happen with or without contact. Most people say they hear “a pop“. It can occur when you‘re slowing down from running, planting and suddenly changing direction, or hyperextending the knee. “When this happens immediate pain results, the knee will fully swell, tenderness occurs around the knee, and the range of motion will be greatly affected.” ( Micheli, Dr. Lyle J. ) The first thing to do if an injury occurs is to use R.I.C.E., which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
If possible, keep the injured area above the level of your child's heart when your child is sitting or lying down. Keeping the injured area elevated will decrease swelling and pain. Putting the injured arm or leg on a pillow may be helpful.
There are many injuries in general, but sports injuries? Sprains and Strains are the most common injuries in sports. “Sprains are injuries to ligaments, the tough bands connecting in a joint. Suddenly stretching ligaments past their limits deforms or tears them” (Hoffman 1). Ligaments are like springs in a sense that when you stretch a spring, it will return to it’s normal state unless they are
The word patella comes from the great latin language meaning shallow pan or shallow dish. The description of that word could not be more correct, it was meant in reference to balance of food but in anatomy’s case a balance of the body. The patella is a small bone located in front of the knee joint where the thigh bone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) meet. It protects the knee and connects the muscles in the front of the thigh to the tibia. The patella is one of two sesamoid bones found in the body, roughly triangular shaped in size. It’s thick consistency allows for the articulation of the femur, which in turn allows for body support and balance. The patella has multiple body functions with the primary being knee extension. The patella is essential for basic body functions including locomotion;
attention. The Athletic Trainer will tell you to get the injury checked out by going to the hospital and
She immediately scheduled an appointment with an ankle specialist, who diagnosed me with hairline fractures throughout my ankle. At this moment, I thought that my career in sports was over as I would never come back from the months spent in a boot, unable to participate in any form of physical activity, and the months of therapy that followed, but I persevered and returned to playing condition before too long. Some people aren’t so fortunate. They sustain career ending injuries which often include soft tissue damage. The problem with injuries like these is not that they will never heal, as many of them will, but the time it takes for them to heal.
High school football players sustain a major proportion of season injuries. A major part of these regions are due to ligament sprains, targeted stretching exercises may be beneficial. The most injured players were those with the position of running back and linebackers. In the 2005-2006 season there were more than half a million injuries nationally of high school football players. This data was collected from over 100 high school football teams.
Researchers have studied how to treat an ankle sprain, but there are not as many that have looked at whether using tape or using a brace is more effective in preventing injury.1, 3 Those who focus on prevention take into account proprioception, patient satisfaction, cost-benefit, and kinematics.2, 3, 4, 5 Evaluating various evidence provided in research, athletic trainers can decide which intervention is best suited for their practice.
Ice packs and hot packs can be very helpful for both injuries and the reducing of swelling and pain. “Inside the plastic container of a cold pack there is a compartment containing solid ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) that is separated form a compartment containing water.” (Timberlake, Karen, 245) When the ice packed is crushed a reaction occurs between the water and the ammonium nitrate. “The temperature drops to about 4 to 5o C to give a cold pack that is ready to use.” (Timberlake, Karen, 245) Cold ice packs stop the blood flow, which causes less inflammation and controls bleeding. Ice pack can come in different forms from ice gels to ice baths. One can also make their own ice pack by putting ice cubes or crushed ice into a bag. Some people may even use frozen peas or other frozen food in their freezer. Ice packs work better when they are molded to the skin. Cold packs work best when used before twenty-four hours right after the injury. Inflammation usually occurs during that first 3 to 5 days of the injury, that is the best time for icing in order to prevent inflammation. The most about of swelling occurs the day after the injury. It is good to use the cold pack in 15 to 20 minute period with 30-minute breaks in between. If one uses an ice pack for to long they may start to feel numbness and tingling while they are icing. Some ...