3. Sports Injury Prevention: It’s Not Whether You Win or Lose
Dr Jagannatha D
Consultant orthopedic surgeon
Trauma & sports medicine specialist

4. Background Millions of children participate daily in sports activities
Children learn to improve:
Physical fitness
Coordination
Team play
There is a risk of injury just by participating
This slide is the standard background that will be on all slides unless otherwise noted

5. Problems with Surveillance
Difficult to track injuries
All injuries don’t get reported
Best data from team physicians and trainers
No standard method of reporting
May report by
Body part injured
Amount of time a player missed practice or a game
Type of injury sustained

6. Magnitude of the Problem
3.5 million sports injuries for children < 15 years of age treated in medical settings
¼ of all Emergency Department visits
For children involved in organized sports
770,000 physician visits
90,000 hospitalizations / year
70-80% injuries are minor (< 1 wk of practice missed)
60% occur during practice

7. Injury Mechanisms < 10 years of age Pubertal child
Often injured during individual recreational activities
Usually within the first week of the activity
Examples = bike riding, roller skating, sledding
Pubertal child
Greater weights, greater force = more severe collision
Usually occur during organized sporting events
Examples = Football, Wrestling, Basketball

8. Sports Causing Significant Injuries at High School & Intercollegiate Level
Football
Wrestling
Gymnastics
Basket ball
Hockey

9. Types of Injuries Acute vs. Chronic
Both types usually involve muscle & bone
Acute
Result from a collision or sudden twist
Examples = Sprains/Strains, Contusions, Fractures
Chronic / Overuse
Repetitive, small injuries due to repeat motions
Increased today as children strive for excellence at younger ages
Examples = Pitching a baseball, Running cross country

10. Body Parts Injured May Vary By
Sport Played
Some sports emphasize different body parts
Lower extremity = soccer, basketball
Upper extremity = tennis, baseball
Equipment Used
Projectiles may cause ocular injury
Examples = baseball, tennis

11. Body Parts Injured May Vary By (Continued)
Age
Younger children often injure upper extremity
Older children usually injure lower extremity
Sex
Some sports injure one sex differently than an another
Females tend to have more knee injuries in basketball than males
In general, shoulder more male, knee/ankle more female

12. Catastrophic Injuries
Injuries that result in permanent, severe neurologic disability
Direct Catastrophic Injury
Trauma from active participation in sport
Example = Football, Ice Hockey
Indirect
Result from overexertion while playing a sport
Causes – Dehydration or sudden cardiac death

13. Preventing Sports Injuries
Field / Equipment Changes
Rule Changes / Coaching
Individual Preparation

14. Field/Equipment Changes
Add equipment as injuries become evident
Examples
Helmets & Face Masks in youth hockey
Chin protector in Little League Baseball
Field modifications to prevent injuries
Avoid potholes, grates, rocks near field
Change field as injuries seen
Example = Anchoring soccer goals

15. Proper equipments

16. Rule Changes/Coaching
Rule changes to adjust for injury patterns
Example = “spearing” in football
Officials must enforce the established rules
Coaches
Teach the appropriate techniques
Encourage discipline in preparation (stretching, etc)

18. Individual Preparation Prior to Participation
Learn about the game prior to signing up
Is this sport appropriate for your child?
Does your child wish to participate?
Who will be supervising practices/games?
Purchase the recommended equipment
Pre-participation physical exam
Preseason conditioning

19. Individual Preparation At Participation
Practice within your limits
Stay well-hydrated
Know and follow the rules of the game
If injured
Seek medical attention prior to returning to play
Adequate rehabilitation is essential

21. FRACTURES A fracture is a break or crack in the
continuity of the bone.
SYMPTOMS:
Pain at or near fractured site
Tenderness on gentle pressure
Swelling over the fracture site
Deformity e.g. irregularity of bone, angulation or rotation of limb, depression of bone etc.
Loss of power
Signs and symptoms of shock

25. DISLOCATIONS SYMPTOMS: Pain at the site of injury
A dislocation is the displacement of one or more
bones at a joint. It usually occurs in the shoulders,
elbow, thumb, fingers and the lower jaw.
SYMPTOMS:
Pain at the site of injury
Limited movement at joint
Deformity
Swelling
Tenderness

26. FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS
TREATMENT:
Support and immobilize the injured limb
Use a splint (if possible) in order to prevent movement of the injured part
Arrange for casualty to be removed to hospital
In doubtful cases, always treat as for a fracture
Do not attempt to replace the bones

27. STRAINS SYMPTOMS: Localised pain Stiffness Inflammation Bruising
A strain is an injury to a muscle in which the
Muscle fibres tear as a result of overstretching.
(Sprain – to a ligament)
SYMPTOMS:
Localised pain
Stiffness
Inflammation
Bruising

28. SPRAINS SYMPTOMS: Pain at site of of injury
A sprain occurs at a joint where there is
tearing or over-stretching of the ligaments
and tissues.
SYMPTOMS:
Pain at site of of injury
Swelling and later bruising
Pain on movement
Loss of function

29. SPRAINS TREATMENT: Support the joint in most comfortable position
P.R.I.C.E. (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) treatment
When a sprained ankle occurs outdoors, do not remove the shoe
If unsure whether there is a fracture, always assume it is one

33. Summary All sports pose a risk of injury
Research the interested sport prior to participation
Know the rules, equipment needed, and who will supervise / coach your child
Seek a pre-participation physical exam
Have fun and play hard