SPORTS INJURY MANAGEMENT

Reporter : Lea Rose Requirme

IS INJURY EVALUATION IS THE SAME AS DIAGNOSIS?

• INJURY EVALUATION is not the same as DIAGNOSIS.

• EVALUATION happens in the field while DIAGNOSTIC process
occurs in the doctor’s clinic.
• The diagnostic process accounts all the information needed to see
the holistic picture of the cause and severity of the injury such as
patient’s history , comprehensive physical examination ,
special test and diagnostic test ( e. g., MRI , X-RAY ).
• The coach or athletic trainer should have a
background on injury evaluation and
management to bridge the gap between the
playing field and hospital.

• Primary Survey

— The first part of the evaluation process.

— This is a quick evaluation if there are life-

threatening injuries present.
WHAT SPORTS INJURY CAN LEAD TO DEATH?

• One of the life-threatening sports injury is

concussion or traumatic brain injury.
• This injury is common to contact and combat
sports ( i. e., boxing ) and is caused by a strong
blow to the head that temporarily impairs brain
function.
CONCUSSION
— is a type of traumatic brain injury
—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or
jolt to the head or by a hit to the body
that causes the head and brain to move
rapidly back and forth.
• Aside from being unconscious , the injured
athlete might show other signs such as amnesia ,
loss of balance , poor motor coordination ,
and slurred speech.
• These signs may manifest after right the trauma
or it could be delayed for a few hours.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONCUSSION
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTIC

GRADE I MILD No loss of consciousness ,

condition normalizes in less
than 15 minutes.

GRADE II MODERATE No loss of consciousness ,

condition normalizes
beyond 15 minutes

GRADE III SEVERE Loss of consciousness

• CONCUSSIONS can be life-threatening if blood vessels in the
brain are ruptured.

• As blood leaks from blood vessels into the skull , the brain is
deprived of oxygen-rich blood , a situation can lead to death.

• As the blood accumulates inside the skull , the brain is pushed

toward the skull and impedes the blood flow to the other parts of
the brain.
• If the coach suspects a concussion , the injured
athlete has be brought to the hospital so a doctor can
determine if diagnostic test ( i. e., MRI) should be
performed.
• Athletes who suffer are advised not to play or train
for two to four weeks or upon the advice of the doctor.
• Other conditions that can lead to life-threatening
condition are cardiac arrest and shock.
• Some individuals are susceptible to developing
cardiac arrest because of some pre-existing
medical conditions such as hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
— is a disease in which the heart muscle
becomes thickened (hypertrophied). The
thickened heart muscle can make it harder for
the heart to pump blood
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Chest pain, especially during exercise
• Fainting, especially during or just after exercise or exertion
• Sensation of fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeats
(palpitations)
• Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
• It is important that individuals consult a
doctor prior to engaging in strenuous physical
activity to screen pre-existing medical
conditions.