Assessment of Injuries Assessment is an important skill that all medical professionals should posses. Assessment- the orderly collection of subjective and objective data on the injured athlete’s health status.

Assessment of Injuries Diagnosis-using assessment and physical examination to establish cause and nature of an athlete’s injury or disease. Only a physician can Diagnose Can all Dr. diagnose all injuries?

Factors Influencing Assessment Anthropomorphic data-size, weight, body structure, gender, strength and maturity level. Simply put, when you evaluate a 7 th grader it is going to be different than a college junior.  vs

Factors Influencing Assessment Mechanism of Injury (MOI)- takes into consideration forces involved with injury, what hit and where, was another person involved?

Factors Influencing Assessment Speed-the speed of the collision/game will affect the severity of the injury. Can a sophomore play with a senior?

Factors Influencing Assessment Protective Equipment-was the equipment properly fit and used. Is there more advanced equipment that could be used? Some examples?

Factors Influencing Assessment Skill Level- novice level players are at risk for more injuries due to many factors. Inexperience with the game, new actions, slow or too fast judgments.

Recognition of Injuries An ATC’s first action is to recognize the level of care needed. This many be determined by direct observation or second- hand accounts.

Levels of Evaluation Primary Injury Evaluation Airway-Breathing-Circulation Severe bleeding

Levels of Evaluation Secondary Injury Survey HOPS- History/Observation/Palpation/Special Tests SOAP- Subjective/Objective/Assessment/Plan

Levels of Evaluation Secondary Injury Survey History-What happened? When, who was involved? Was a sound heard? What factors influenced the injury? Have you injured this part before? Type of pain and level of pain? Sensation?

Levels of Evaluation Observation-expose the injured part as best possible. Compare to uninjured side if possible. What are you looking for?

Levels of Evaluation Palpation-touching during evaluation to determine extent of injury. Start on uninjured side, or away from painful area and work toward pain

Levels of Evaluation Special Tests Active Range of Motion (AROM) Ask the athlete to move their part through flexion, extension ect.

Levels of Evaluation Special Tests Passive Range of Motion (PROM) Move the athlete through motions after asking the athlete to completely relax. Note location and intensity of pain

Levels of Evaluation Special Tests Resisted Range of Motion (RROM) Check strength in an isometric way Ask the athlete to hold your arm in that position, don’t let me move it. Check strength through the ROM if the isometric tests are not excessively painful.

Levels of Evaluation Special Tests Stability-to test the ligament laxity, stabilize the proximal joint and move the distal end. Feel for instability compared to the uninjured side.

Levels of Evaluation Special Tests-each joint/muscle has special tests that can be used to check stability and strength, these should be performed as necessary.

Levels of Evaluation Functional Activity-if the athlete passes all special tests, the athlete can be evaluated for return to play. What would be some functional tests for basketball, football?

Scenario #1 You are alone at a basketball game and a player goes down on the court. He is not getting up after a few minutes, you go on the court, what do you do -primary assessment-where, what r u looking 4 -secondary assessment-where, what do you ask, ect

Scenario #2 You are in the training room and an athlete comes in with knee pain. Go through SOAP or HOPS and tell me what information you are looking for.

Scenario #3 A player goes down on the football field. He seems to not be moving from the sidelines. When you get to him he is responsive to your primary assessment questions. Which are? What does your secondary assessment consist of?