1, Outline a method of injury assessment when assessing ...



PART A

1. Outline a method of injury assessment when assessing the injury below.

The injury below must first be identified of the type of injury, before it can be assessed.

It can be identified as a soft tissue injury, which is an injury to all tissue other than bones and teeth. The reason for this is that the injured area has become swollen initiating the inflammatory response. The inflammatory response begins when an injury to soft tissue occurs and this signals the beginning of the self healing process.

This particular injury could be classified as a contusion, which is the stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon, due to obvious discolouration (bruise). Therefore this injury could be classified as an acute injury, in this case a possible sprained ankle.

Once the injury has been classified it is then vital to begin appropriate treatment, to:

• In the short term- reduce swelling, and prevent further injury

• In the long term- regain full function, prevent recurrence and return to the field.

In order to understand the extent of the injury and determine whether the injured player can return to the field or not we are able to use the TOTAPS procedure.

This procedure includes:

• Talk to the player- which provides information on exactly what happened

• Observe the injury- Looking for any obvious signs such as swelling (soft tissue) or deformities (such as bones protruding the skin).

• Touch- Gently feel the injury for any sign of deformity or swelling and try to pinpoint the area of pain.

• Active movement- Ask the player to perform a range of movements such as flexion, extension and rotation. If done without pain further assessment may then proceed.

• Passive movement- The assessor physically mobilizes the joint using a range of movements which is aimed at identifying painful areas.

• Skills test- The player asked to perform a skill that is required during the game, if performed to the satisfaction of the assessor they may return to the field of play.

2, Discuss how sports medicine addresses the specific demands of the following athletes

a). Adult and aged athletes:

As a result of the ageing process, there are many different strains and concerns placed on adult and aged athletes, for example previous health conditions play a major role in deciding which activity the athlete will be able to participate in. This is due to the athlete’s decreased ability to function efficiently. It is therefore crucial for the athlete to seek expert advice to help them exercise safely.

It is also important for this particular group to take consideration when exercising regarding:

• Heart conditions-

This includes people with high blood pressure and people who have experienced a heart attack or other heart problems. Exercise can improve the heart and reduce high blood pressure over time, this is because the activity makes the heart work harder and therefore it slowly adapts. However, if the activity is too demanding for the athlete to handle, they may place themselves at greater risk of a heart attack or other cardiac conditions. Therefore the key principles for managing a heart condition when participating in sport include: exercise must be aerobic, of low impact and moderate intensity. Any progress must be made gradually in order to prevent any sort of pressure.

• Fractures and bone density-

Osteoporosis is a type of musculoskeletal condition in which there is deterioration in the bone structure. The risk of developing osteoporosis increases with age. The bones become thin and weak, leading to an increased risk of bone fracture. Physical activity increases bone mass and makes bones stronger. It is therefore highly encouraged as a means of prevention against osteoporosis.

Exercise should be low impact, safe and beneficial. It is important to focus on strength, coordination, aerobic capacity and flexibility and avoid contact sports.

• Flexibility and joint mobility-

Having a restriction in joint mobility can decrease the amount of exercise options in which adults and aged athletes can participate. Appropriate exercise can cause significant improvement on the athlete’s flexibility and joint mobility. For example activities such as stretching and yoga can create a significant deal of improvement on the athlete’s range-of-motion, which also helps with conditions such as aching joints, arthritis and tight muscles. It also increases balance and stability while reducing fractures caused by falls. Adult and aged athletes should avoid activities with high impact and sudden movements as this will only cause the muscle to be stretched beyond their capacity, resulting in injury.

2. b). Female athletes:

Female athletes develop similar benefits from physical activity and sports participation to male athletes. However, there are a few factors that female athletes need to be aware of to ensure safe participation in exercise.

These factors include:

• Eating disorders:

These are disorders of the normal eating routine, resulting from concerns about weight gain in activities where body image is of great concern e.g. gymnastics.

Eating disorders can damage the athlete’s performance, as by denying the body vital nutrients, the body’s ability to produce energy for muscle contractions is reduced. This can lead to physiological damages to the body and deterioration of performance and the athlete can become injured more often. Dehydration has a significant impact on thermoregulation and the body’s capacity to function at the level of intensity required for optimal performance. The following implications of Anorexia Nervosa can severely impair the athlete’s ability to perform:

• Reduced energy levels

• Lack of Motivation

• Decreased endurance

• Increase in level of injury

• Swollen Joints

To prevent eating disorders, it is important that trainers and coaches:

1. Focus on the athletes achieving their best (not necessarily winning).

2. Use nutrition experts to detect signs of eating disorders

3. Observe training routines and social practices

• Iron deficiency:

Haemoglobin is the substance in blood that binds to oxygen and transports it around the body. As haemoglobin levels increase (due to training) so does the oxygen-carrying capacity. Decreased haemoglobin levels affect performance because the muscle cells are deprived of the oxygen required to break down nutrients and produce energy.

Having an iron deficiency severely inhibits performance as it causes fatigue and loss of energy.

The symptoms include:

• Hair loss

• Shortness of breath

• Malaise (general feeling of unwell)

• Worsening of heart problems

• Paleness

The different types of iron deficiencies include:

• Iron losses in sweat

• Gastro-intestinal bleeding

• Low dietary intake of iron

• Menstrual losses in women

• Damage to red blood cells through trauma

The condition tends to ease if training is gradual, progressive and supported by a balanced diet. A balanced diet, high in iron is achieved through consuming green leafy vegetables, lean red meat and soy beans/ lentils. However iron supplements can also be beneficial if the appropriate amount of iron required is not being consumed in the diet.

• Bone density:

Bone density is the amount of matter per square centimeters of bones. A high level of calcium ensures bones are kept strong and supportive for optimal performance. Bones that lack calcium are susceptible to fractures and structural weakening. This may happen in the spinal cord for example, which contributes to a hunchback.

Calcium is regulated by the parathyroid glands, which control how much calcium is stored in the body and how much will be released into the bloodstream.

When bones lose minerals such as calcium more quickly than the body can replace them the bones become brittle and the risk of developing osteoporosis increases.

A bone is at its strongest point when a person is in their twenties, with deterioration beginning at mid-thirties. After menopause, females become less capable of utilizing a sufficient amount of calcium causing bones to become thin and brittle and are therefore more susceptible to fractures and the development or osteoporosis.

Female athletes:

Women beginning in sports programs should focus on safety in activity and choose aerobic sports such as swimming, cycling, running and aerobics.

Female athletes continuing programs need to be aware of the effect of age and menopause on bone density.

For women with osteoporosis it is important that activity includes a warm up, progresses to stretching and that ice is used on inflamed arthritic joints to prevent swelling and soreness. A well balanced diet with adequate calcium-enriched foods (milk and cheese) is recommended.

• Pregnancy:

During pregnancy the athlete’s changing body shape places strain on the her back, which can cause back pain. The increase in body size can also make some activities slightly more uncomfortable for example jogging. At first it was believed that exercise caused excessive stress to the mother and fetus, however research suggested sustained, moderate intensity exercise causes no additional stress.

The athlete needs to be aware of the physical alterations and limitations and be cautious whilst participating in activity. An example of an ideal environment in which to exercise whilst pregnant is the pool. The buoyant water supports the extra body weight and relieves joint stress.

It is important that pregnant women exercise in the middle of the day and drink adequate water in the middle of the day to avoid thermal stress to the fetus. It is also not recommended that pregnant women participate in competitive sports.

The following guidelines should be followed to allow safe execution of physical activity:

• Obtain medical advice from doctor

• Avoid exhaustive exercise

• Drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated

• Wear loose clothing to avoid restriction

• Avoid exercise in the heat, especially during early pregnancy

• Regular exercise is better than irregular exercise

• Begin and finish exercise gradually – warm up and warm down properly

• Decrease exercise levels as pregnancy progresses

• Be aware of the danger signs and consult your doctor as necessary (for example: pain, bleeding, nausea, headaches, heart palpitations, persistent contractions)

• Avoid exercising flat on your back, which can reduce blood flow to the baby

• Discuss pregnancy implications

Benefits of exercise during pregnancy include:

• Maintenance of fitness

• General wellbeing

• Weight control

• Improved muscle tone

PART B

3. Outline the signs that identify that an athlete is over trained.

‘Over training’ can be defined as chronic fatigue experienced as a result of insufficient recovery over a long period of time. During the rest period physiological adaptations occur. These adaptations are in response to maximal loading of the cardiovascular and muscular systems and are accomplished by improving efficiency of the heart, increasing capillaries in the muscles, and increasing glycogen stores and mitochondrial enzyme systems within the muscle cells. During recovery periods (rest) these systems build to higher levels to compensate for the stress that has been applied. The result of these adaptations is an improvement in the level of performance.

Therefore rest is vital and without an appropriate recovery period, regeneration will not be able to occur which is needed to help the body physically and psychologically overcome the stress of training.

Over training can be characterised by a number of symptoms: such as premature fatigue, decline in performance, mood changes, lack of ability to concentrate, emotional instability and decreased motivation.

To determine whether or not an athlete is suffering from over training it is important to look for the signs, as these are usually ignored until performance is significantly affected. The signs include:

Physiological:

• Changes in blood pressure

• Changes in heart rate

• Increased oxygen consumption

Psychological:

• Depression

• Loss of appetite

• Constant fatigue

• Fear of competition

• Emotional instability

• General apathy

Information and processing:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Loss of coordination

A well planned and structured training program, appropriate nutrition, rest and the ability to recognise incomplete recovery are key elements for staying on track.

4. Analyse ethical issues associated with the use of technology to improve performance in sport.

The use of technology to gain an advantage in sport has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This has been dependant on extensive development of computer technology and equipment.

Most athletes tend to use heart rate monitors to establish their level of intensity relative to their target heart rate during exercise. This is crucial for improvement, as well as using lactate threshold testing and biomechanical analysis.

Elite athletes often aim to train at levels of intensity close to the lactate threshold or a level at which lactate begins to accumulate rapidly in the blood. This point is characterised by a burning sensation, increased ventilation rate and deteriorating performance. The reason athletes train at this point is because even if there are no improvements in maximal oxygen uptake, increasing the relative intensity or speed at which lactate threshold occurs will improve performance.

Institutes of sports and research centers have developed methods of measuring and analysing physiological progress as a result of training. There is a range of equipment and a number of different ways to establish lactate threshold. The most accurate and reliable method is testing blood samples during graded exercise tests in the laboratory, with blood samples being taken at graded levels of intensity. Using this information, a lactate performance curve is generated and this shows rises in lactate levels. However the equipment required for this is both expensive and limited in terms of availability and therefore creates a considerable advantage to those who can afford the equipment.

More convenient and less expensive, are portable lactate analysers. However, they require athletes to undergo periodic fitness tests that have a set of protocols so that measurements can be compared from one occasion to the next. Simpler field tests require athletes to perform work similar to what is required in competition. With the aid of special heart rate monitors that have a split time facility, the lactate threshold can be established.

Biomechanical analysis allows athletes to explore the various techniques applied to skills such as throwing, catching, bowling, jumping and manipulating objects.

Some measures such as video analysis, photography and use of comparative images allow performance of skills to be subjected to a high degree of scrutiny.

Biomechanical analysis aims to make execution of any movement more skillful, efficient and safe.

For example:

Video analysis allows analysis of player movements, strategies and techniques with a view to-

• Improving technique: the way a player executes a movement for example a swimming stroke can be observed repeatedly in slow motion to locate error.

• Improving visualisation: By observing a skill performed repeatedly or in slow motion, a player’s conceptualisation of what is required for proper execution is enhanced.

• Establishing biomechanical efficiency: By observing the movements of skillful players, coaches can gain an insight into how movements can be performed more efficiently and demonstrate these to their players.

• Analysing strategies: Coaches find video replays useful for analysing the effectiveness of strategies used both by their team and their opponents.

Modern athletes have a major advantage in terms of equipment available to improve performance or make skill execution easier and safer.

For example the Swimsuit (e.g. Speedo LZR swim suit) has made a huge improvement in athlete’s event performance, even causing some athletes to brake competition record times. It was created to have the effect of increased buoyancy, Lower level of friction/ drag, streamlined shape to hold best position in the water and fully bonded seams to reduce drag and allow full movement and flexibility.

However some ethical issues of the production of this product have arisen relating to:

• Swimmers that wear the fast suits have a considerable advantage over those who cannot afford them

• Others saw the technology as a natural progression in the sport and used the example of the cyclists’ aerodynamic helmet shape.

• Noticeable reduction in performance times and increase in records being broken

Another example of an advance in equipment is Golf balls (e.g. Nike multilayered golf balls). They too have caused a significant improvement in athletes overall performance. They have been produced to gain greater direction control, have reduced spin, increase in distance and have the appropriate number and size of dimples for maximum elevation.

However there are also some ethical issues involved relating to the enhancement it gives to social players and are seen as a significant advantage.

In conclusion, athletes from countries of lower economic statuses tend to be excluded from competition due to the fact that their governments cannot afford to spend as much money on the latest sports technology.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download