Example #1 Ankle Sprain:
- An ankle sprain is a generic term for over exertion of the muscles, tendons ligaments and nerves surrounding the ankle.
- The course of action depends on the severity of the injury. A minor sprain is when a ligament is stretched or partially torn. In severe sprains the ligament is completely torn. Sometimes the end of the bone to which a ligament is attached can crack.
- When you sprain your ankle there is sometimes a snapping or popping sound and a feeling of "giving way" as a ligament is torn or bone cracked. A sprain can be very painful, with the pain getting worse when you move your ankle. With a severe sprain, you may not be able to bear weight on your leg.
- The most common type of ankle sprain is when your foot turns inwards, overstretching the ligaments on the outside of your ankle. This is called an inversion sprain.
- They are especially common in sports that involve running and jumping, landing from a jump, fast changes in direction or lots of stop-starts (such as football, basketball and volleyball).
- Treatment of a sprained ankle should follow the PRICE procedure
Example #2 Broken Leg:
Broken legs can range from simply painful injuries to life-threatening emergencies. The coach/first aider must recognize a broken leg to decide how to respond to it
Signs and symptoms of a broken leg:
- Pain (almost always present)
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Deformity (leg appears out-of-place)
- Numbness or tingling
- Broken skin with bone visible
- Limited mobility of the leg
If it is suspected the player has broken a leg, an ambulance should be called as soon as it is safe to do so. The appropriate injury regime is the SALTAPS method (can be seen at the beginning). Universal first aid me need to be applied until the ambulance arrives:
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. Make sure the victim has an Airway, is Breathing, and has Circulation. Broken legs can be very distracting injuries. Most of the time, however, they usually look worse than they are.
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- Look for other injuries. If a victim shows signs of injury to the head, neck, or back, do not move the victim.
- Cover any broken skin with sterile dressings. If needed, the wound can be rinsed -- try to use sterile water.
- Elevate the leg above the level of the heart, if possible.
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Lay the injured on his or her back to reduce the chance of . Cover the victim with a blanket to keep them warm.
Example #3 Personal reflection – Neck Sprain
Rugby Union is known for causing many injuries due to the physical nature of the game. One of the most painful injuries I ever received was spraining my neck during a match. Spraining your neck has the same symptoms as spraining your ankle, severe pain redness and swelling etc. However as the neck is pivotal in the whole motion of your body it can put you completely out of action for a considerable amount of time.
The neck is prone to sprains, because it is the least protected area of the spinal column with the most stresses demanded of it. If you damage a muscle, tendon or ligament in your neck area and have ruled out more severe conditions involving vertebrae or nerves, you can treat the sprain effectively and probably heal completely within a few days:
- Begin treatment immediately after a sprain for the best chances of a quick recovery.
- Take over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce the inflammation that causes pain.
- Follow the PRICE procedure. Ice the injured area for immediate pain relief and additional suppression of inflammation. Alternate ice use for 20 minutes on and 40 minutes off. A flexible gel pad works best to wrap around the affected area.
- Continue taking anti-inflammatory medication for at least 3 days following your injury, in order to prevent stiffness.
- Gradually increase your range of movement by performing neck stretches. Be careful not to over exert yourself and hinder the healing process.
Example #4 Dislocated finger
Arguably the most common injury in rugby, I have dislocated my index finger during a game, however that has increased the chances of the same injury happening again tenfold. As a precautionary measure I tape the knuckle up as solid as a can without losing circulation to reduce the risk of dislocation again.
Treatment:
- Depending on the severity of the dislocation and position of the knuckle, a first aider may decide to quickly push the finger back into position. This is to avoid nerve damage but it is advised that if there is no qualified first aider/paramedic near you wait until you get to a hospital.
- Once the finger is back into place and has been established that there was no fracture, the nest stage is to tape the finger straight to the next one on the same hand. For example my index finger was taped using steristrip to my middle finger, however not too tight as the finger is likely to swell and you don’t want to cut off circulation.
- As with any injury that produces a lot of swelling the course of action is to follow the price procedure. Keeping your arm above your heart will also hinder the swelling process with causes the pain; this can be lying down with your hand on your chest or in a sling.
- After a few days the swelling should have subsided but there will be noticeable bruising around the knuckle joint. Using arnica cream and gentle movement should bring back functionality. This can take up to a number of weeks to fully rehabilitate.
- It is important to note that once a finger has been dislocated it will have weakened at that joint and can easily be done again. Therefore taking precautionary measures such as tape, strapping before taking part in a contact sport such as rugby again is advisable.
Ben McGee
BTEC Sport