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neurologyYou need to know

• Sporting injuries can be classified by the tissue affected, such as hard or soft tissue, and by their onset and duration, such as acute or chronic.
• Hard tissue injuries affect structures such as bones and joints, whereas soft tissue injuries affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, blood vessels and other non-bony tissues.
• An acute injury occurs suddenly because of a specific incident, whereas a chronic injury develops gradually through repeated stress, overuse or incomplete recovery.
• A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, commonly caused by direct impact, twisting or excessive force, and symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity and loss of function.
• A dislocation occurs when the bones at a joint are forced completely out of their normal position, while a subluxation is a partial dislocation; both can cause severe pain, swelling, deformity and restricted movement.
• A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repeated loading without enough recovery, and it usually produces localised pain that worsens during weight-bearing activity.
• Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition in which joint cartilage deteriorates, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced movement, and previous joint injuries can increase the risk.
• A sprain is an overstretched or torn ligament, while a strain is an overstretched or torn muscle or tendon; both commonly cause pain, swelling, bruising and reduced function.
• A rupture is a complete tear of a muscle, tendon or ligament, often caused by sudden excessive force, and may produce sharp pain, weakness, swelling and a popping sensation.
• A haematoma is a collection of blood within tissue caused by damaged blood vessels, producing swelling, discolouration, tenderness and pain.
• An abrasion is superficial skin damage caused by friction, whereas a blister is a fluid-filled pocket caused by repeated friction, heat or pressure.
• Concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or force transmitted to the head, with possible symptoms including headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, nausea, balance problems and sensitivity to light.
• Tendinosis is chronic degeneration of a tendon caused by repeated overloading and inadequate recovery, producing localised pain, stiffness, weakness and reduced function.
• SALTAPS stands for See, Ask, Look, Touch, Active movement, Passive movement and Strength, and it provides a structured pitch-side assessment when a serious injury is not suspected.
• Intrinsic risk factors originate within the performer and include age, previous injury, poor fitness, muscle weakness, limited flexibility, poor technique and anatomical differences.
• Extrinsic risk factors come from outside the performer and include unsafe equipment, unsuitable footwear, poor playing surfaces, weather, incorrect training loads, contact with others and inadequate rules or supervision.
• An effective warm-up gradually increases muscle temperature, blood flow, joint mobility and movement readiness, which can reduce injury risk, while a cool-down supports a gradual return towards resting levels but has limited evidence for preventing injury or delayed-onset muscle soreness.
• PRICE stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is used during the early management of many acute soft tissue injuries to protect the area and help control pain and swelling.
• Cryotherapy uses cold to reduce pain and limit swelling, heat therapy increases circulation and tissue flexibility during later recovery, contrast therapy alternates heat and cold, and stretching or massage may improve mobility and reduce muscle tension when used at an appropriate stage.
• NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation but can cause side effects and mask symptoms; physiotherapy restores movement, strength and function; and surgery, including minimally invasive arthroscopy, may repair severe damage that cannot be managed conservatively. Concussion management follows the six Rs—Recognise, Remove, Refer, Rest, Recover and Return—and rehabilitation programmes should be challenging, holistic, achievable, measurable, progressive, specific and safe according to CHAMPSS principles.

• Classify a sporting injury accurately by identifying whether it is acute or chronic and whether it affects hard or soft tissue, using its cause, onset and symptoms as evidence.
• Perform a SALTAPS assessment in the correct sequence, stopping and referring the performer if severe pain, deformity, neurological symptoms or a serious injury is suspected.
• Identify intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors in a sporting scenario and recommend specific controls, such as progressive training, suitable equipment, corrected technique and adequate recovery.
• Design an activity-specific warm-up that raises body temperature, mobilises relevant joints and rehearses progressively more demanding versions of the sporting movements.
• Apply PRICE safely to an acute soft tissue injury, protecting and resting the area, using wrapped ice for short periods, applying appropriate compression and elevating the injured body part.
• Follow the concussion six Rs by recognising possible symptoms, removing the performer immediately, arranging appropriate referral and preventing return to sport until recovery and medical clearance.
• Select and justify stretching, massage, cold, heat or contrast therapy according to the injury type and stage of healing, while identifying when a method may be ineffective or unsafe.
• Compare NSAIDs, physiotherapy and surgery by considering their purpose, benefits, risks, recovery time and suitability for the injury and performer.
• Construct a CHAMPSS-based rehabilitation programme with safe, specific and measurable exercises that progress mobility, strength and sport-specific function without aggravating symptoms.
• Evaluate treatments for fractures, joint injuries and exercise-induced muscle damage by linking each treatment to the damaged tissue, symptoms, healing stage and demands of the performer’s sport.