Biomechanics of Injury
Biomechanics of Injury: Notes
Sports injuries are divided into two categories: Acute and Chronic
Acute Injury
Acute injuries occur suddenly when playing or exercising. E.g. sprained ankles, strained back and fractured hands are acute injuries.
Signs of acute injury include:
Sudden severe pain
Swelling
Inability to place weight on a lower limb
Extreme tenderness in an upper limb
Inability to move a joint through full range of motion
Extreme limb weakness
Visible dislocation/break of bone
Acute phase of injury
The acute phase of an injury spans from the initial onset of injury to the first 72 hours after injury. During the acute stage, the body manifests the trauma with a physiologic response. This response is marked by swelling, discoloration, mild to severe localised pain, decreased range of motion, inability to bear full body weight and superficial temperature changes.
The sub acute phase of injury
The sub acute phase of an injury ranges from 72 hours after the initial injury to 90 days after. The sub acute stage is a crucial period in which the treating physician can ensure a rapid recovery. It is also the hardest phase to differentiate, because it does not have the classic physiological signs usually associated with the acute or chronic phases. Most often the swelling has diminished, the pain has decreased and the range of motion has slightly increased. Patient compliance becomes an issue because they no longer feel intense pain. Pain should not be the indicating factor that a patient has reached maximum medical improvement.
Chronic injury
Chronic injuries are a result of overusing one area of the body while playing a sport or exercising over a long period of time.
Signs of chronic injuries include:
Pain when playing
Pain when you exercise
A dull ache when at rest
Swelling
Chronic phases of injury
The chronic phase of an injury is characterized by prolonged length of disability and or pain to the afflicted area longer
Sports injuries are divided into two categories: Acute and Chronic
Acute Injury
Acute injuries occur suddenly when playing or exercising. E.g. sprained ankles, strained back and fractured hands are acute injuries.
Signs of acute injury include:
Sudden severe pain
Swelling
Inability to place weight on a lower limb
Extreme tenderness in an upper limb
Inability to move a joint through full range of motion
Extreme limb weakness
Visible dislocation/break of bone
Acute phase of injury
The acute phase of an injury spans from the initial onset of injury to the first 72 hours after injury. During the acute stage, the body manifests the trauma with a physiologic response. This response is marked by swelling, discoloration, mild to severe localised pain, decreased range of motion, inability to bear full body weight and superficial temperature changes.
The sub acute phase of injury
The sub acute phase of an injury ranges from 72 hours after the initial injury to 90 days after. The sub acute stage is a crucial period in which the treating physician can ensure a rapid recovery. It is also the hardest phase to differentiate, because it does not have the classic physiological signs usually associated with the acute or chronic phases. Most often the swelling has diminished, the pain has decreased and the range of motion has slightly increased. Patient compliance becomes an issue because they no longer feel intense pain. Pain should not be the indicating factor that a patient has reached maximum medical improvement.
Chronic injury
Chronic injuries are a result of overusing one area of the body while playing a sport or exercising over a long period of time.
Signs of chronic injuries include:
Pain when playing
Pain when you exercise
A dull ache when at rest
Swelling
Chronic phases of injury
The chronic phase of an injury is characterized by prolonged length of disability and or pain to the afflicted area longer