Preventing Sports Injuries BTEC LEVEL 3: SPORT, DEVELOPMENT, COACHING AND FITNESS

Learning Objectives Identify intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors Describe preventative measures for each type of risk factor

The Numbers One person in every ten sustains an injury each year (Nicholl et al., 1991)

Prevention In the past, sports care was more concerned with diagnosing and treating rather than preventing Now we know that once an injury starts to surface, it is too late

Intrinsic or Extrinsic Task Create a table listing as many risk factors as you can think of Swap with a partner and they will fill in the other two columns Risk factor Intrinsic or Extrinsic Preventative measure

Prevention Injuries are prevented by: Identifying risk factors Addressing risks with preventive measures

Prevention Program A comprehensive prevention program includes: Pre-sports Physical Appropriate clothing and footwear Respecting your environment Using proper Equipment Proper Coaching Getting in shape Don’t Overdo It Structure your workout properly Learn Proper Technique

Appropriate Clothing & Footwear Makes exercise safer and more enjoyable Keeps body temp. at comfortable level Wear more clothing at the start of a work out and take off layers as necessary Footwear Correct shoes for your sport/activity Socks to prevent blisters and add support/cushion

Respect Your Environment Watch weather - overheating and overcooling Athletes may become too hot or too cold depending on temperature, humidity, and wind conditions

Respect Your Environment Tips for Cold Weather Exercise Proper clothing is essential Endurance sports do not require as much clothing as stop and start sports Wear multiple layers! Polypropylene fabric is recommended Carries sweat away from the skin Keeps body from cooling too rapidly Most heat is lost through the head and face so keep covered

Respect Your Environment Cool weather tips Remember to stay hydrated even when its cold Air pollution Until recently, only urban areas were affected with heavy air pollution Now rural areas must be aware Watch local weather for cautions about exercise and air pollution

Use Proper Equipment If activity requires equipment, make sure it is in proper working order Protective equipment such as helmets, mouth guards, shoulder pads, etc. should be used as well

Task List a range of different sports and write down what protective clothing or equipment is associated with that sport

Get Proper Coaching Qualified coaches should be trained to improve athletic skill and prevent injuries Proper instruction is especially important in high-risk sports (e.g. gymnastics, football, etc.) Also important in lower risk activities where improper technique could lead to overuse injuries (e.g. running, tennis, etc.) Coaches should be certified in their sport by a national association

Get In Shape Conditioning Improves health and well-being Reduces the risk of injury Enhances performance Improves heart-lung endurance, strength, flexibility, body composition, etc. Conditioning should contain sport specific exercises as well

Don’t Overdo It “too much too soon” is one of the main causes of injury Injuries can develop when frequency, duration, or intensity is suddenly increased Frequency = ? Duration = ? Intensity = ?

Learn Proper Technique Acute injuries often result from poor technique that leads to accidents Repetitive use of improper technique leads to overuse injuries Get proper instruction from a coach who is certified to avoid poor technique

TASK Produce a fact sheet explaining the different types of risks associated with sporting activity and what methods could be put in place to minimise these risks.

Learning Objectives Identify intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors Describe preventative measures for each type of risk factor