Sports injuries

Sport injuries are injuries that occur during participation in sports and games due to accident.

Common sport injuries

Accidents during sports can lead to injuries such as

• Wounds
• Dislocation
• Sprain
• Fracture
• Drowning
• Muscle cramp and
• Bleeding and haemorrhage

Description of common sport injuries

Wounds – A wound is a cut in the skin that allows the escape of blood

Types of wound

There are about six types of wound, they include

• Bruises
• Abrasion or mat burn
• Incised wound
• Lacerated wound
• Punctured wound
• Avulsion wound

(1) Bruises or Contusion

Causes

A bruise occur when the body is hit against a hard object and a lump is formed under the skin. The lumps contain escaped blood from blood capillaries.

Signs and symptoms of bruises

• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Discoloration
• Mid bleeding

  Assistance             

• Apply cold compress-massage
• Arrest bleeding by applying pressure to the part
• Seek medical attention

(B) Abrasion and mat burn

Causes

Abrasion occurs when the skin is rubbed against hard object and a portion of the skin is scrapped (removed).

Signs and symptoms

• Mid bleeding
• Pain
• Loss of skin
• Tenderness

Assistance

• Clean the surface with antiseptics
• Apply iodine
• Cover with sterile gauze
• Seek medical attention

(C) Incised wound

Causes

Incised wounds occur when a sharp object like knife, cutlass, glass, cuts deeply into the body tissue. Bleeding is profuse but it heals quickly if properly handled.

Signs and symptoms of incisions

• Pain
• Heavy bleeding
• Swelling
• Tenderness

Assistance

• Wash with antiseptics
• Control bleeding
• Cover with sterile bandage
• Seek medical attention

(D) Lacerated wound

Causes

Lacerated wounds occur when sharp and irregular object like saw cuts deeply into the skin. The cut looks rough and irregular .There may be less bleeding, but healing is slow.

Signs and symptoms of laceration

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Tenderness

Assistance

• Wash with antiseptics
• Control bleeding
• Cover with sterile bandage
• Seek medical attention

(E) Puncture wound

Causes

Puncture wound occur when pinpointed object makes a deep hole in the tissue of the body. It is caused by object such as nail, needle, spike, javelin, arrow, pin etc. There is little or no bleeding but inner organs may be damaged.

Signs and symptoms of puncture

• Object may be buried in the tissue
• Pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Tenderness

Assistance

• Arrest bleeding
• Do not attempt to remove the object
• Seek medical attention

(F) Avulsion

Causes

An avulsion wound occurs when tissues are torn away from the body, this is usually caused by gunshot bullets from gun characterized by small inlet and elaborate outlets, it can occur during shooting game.

Signs and symptoms of avulsion

• Pain
• Heavy bleeding
• Loss of flesh

Assistance

• Arrest bleeding
• Seek medical attention
• If possible take along the torn flesh

Sprain, Strain and Dislocation

A sprain happens as a result of over stretching or over twisting the ligament of a joint. Common site of sprain is the knee joint , elbow joint , ankle joint, and wrist joint.

Signs and symptoms of sprain

• Mild pain
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Dislocation
• Restricted mobility
• Severe pain when touched

Assistance

• Rest the affected joint
• Cold compress dressing
• Crepe support
• Immobilize the joint
• Seek medical attention

Strain

A strain is an injury to the muscle. It occurs in the muscle. It occurs in the muscle when a group of muscle is over stretched, the fibres may over tear thereby causing internal bleeding.

Causes

• Lifting of weight
• Forceful stretching of the muscles
• Action of antagonizing muscle
• Lack of adequate warm up before activity

Signs and symptoms of strains

• Sharp pain
• Muscle tenderness
• Inability
• Swelling of muscle

Assistance

• Position the victim comfortal
• Apply a cold compress
• Bandage the affected part
• Seek medical attention

Dislocation

Dislocation is the displacement of one or more bones at the joint as a result of injury to the joint. Common sites of dislocation are elbow, shoulder, ankle, hip, wrist, toe, and finger joints.

Signs and symptoms of dislocation

• Pain
• Swelling
• Discoloration
• Tenderness
• High temperature at the area
• Subluxation (out of alignment)
• Loss of movement
• Bone displacement
• Deformity

Fractures

Fracture is a break in the bone of the body. It may be simple, complicated or otherwise called compound.

Signs and symptoms of fracture

• Pains
• Deformity
• Abnormal mobility
• Crepitus
• Bone tenderness
• Discoloration of skin
• Bleeding

First-aid material for fracture

• Splints
• Slings
• Bandage
• Pad/cotton wool
• Tourniquet

Bleeding and haemorrhage

Bleeding or haemorrhage is the escape of blood from the blood vessels. It may be internal, external or both. If external,  blood is displayed on skin, if internal, there is blood around the site.

Causes of haemorrhage

• Direct injury or cutting of the blood vessel
• Infection of the blood vessel
• Blood disease
• High blood pressure

Means of Arresting bleeding

• Formation of clot
• Direct pressure
• Indirect pressure
• Use of tourniquet

Assessment

1. One of these is not a first aid material for fracture
   Knife
   b. Slings
   c. Bandage
   d. Pad/cotton wool
2. ……… is the escape of blood from the blood vessels
   Haemorrhage
   b. Blood clotting
   c. Shedding
   d. Blood flow
3. …….. is an injury to the muscle
   Sprain
   b. Dislocation
   c. Strain
   d. Fracture
4. One of this is a cause of haemorrhage except ……..
   Direct injury or cutting of the blood vessel
   b. Infection of the body
   c. Blood disease
   d. High blood pressure
5. …… is the displacement of one or more bones at the joint as a result of injury to the joint
   Sprain
   b. Dislocation
   c. Strain
   d. Fracture