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Sports Injuries: of The Lower Extremities
Sports Injuries: of The Lower Extremities
Sports Injuries: of The Lower Extremities
INJURIES
of The Lower
Extremities
Overuse
1. Overuse injuries are sustained from continuous or repetitive stress,
incorrect technique or equipment, or too much training.
GENERAL FACTS ABOUT SPORTS
INJURIES
About 95% of sports injuries are minor soft tissue traumas.
The most common sports injury is a bruise (contusion). It is
caused when blood collects at the site of an injury and discolors
the skin.
Sprains account for one-third of all sports injuries.
Fractures account for 5-6% of all sports injuries. The bones of the
arms and legs are most apt to be broken.
Stress fractures are especially common in ballet dancers, long-
distance runners, and in people whose bones are thin.
LOWER BODY INJURIES AND
TERMS
Sports Injuries can be found in both the upper and lower body.
2 common lower body sports injuries (focus on this presentation):
ACL Tear
Achilles Tendon
Tear
HISTORY OF ACL INJURY
• Ernest W. Hey Groves (Germany)
In 1917, performed first successful ACL
reconstruction using an iliotibial band
transplant.
• First reports of ACL related injuries came
from military recruits during/after training.
• Willis Campbell (United States)
In 1935, performs first ACL reconstruction
with tendon, using the patellar tendon located
in the tibia.
• ACL Injuries extremely common today with
athletes.
HISTORY OF ACHILLES TENDON
• Achilles, the Greek Hero
Achilles Tendon gets its name from this
Greek Hero.
Legend says Achilles’ mother dipped
Achilles in the River Styx to protect him
in battle. She forgot to dip his heel in the
water, and he was killed in battle by
Paris, who wounded Achilles in the heel.
• Achilles Tendon injuries are common with
athletes who actively use their heel, such
as basketball, football, and soccer
players.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
ACUTE INJURY PROCESS
Overuse of tendon.
Problems with the feet. An Achilles tendon injury can possibly result from flat
feet.
Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight.
CAUSES OF THESE INJURIES
ACL Tear
There are over 250,000 Achilles tendon injuries each year in the
US.
Feeling or hearing a pop in the A sudden, sharp pain that feels like
knee at the time of injury. a direct hit to the Achilles tendon.
Severe pain on the outside and There may be a pop when the
back of the knee, causing rupture occurs. This may be
inability to continue activity. followed by swelling and bruising.
The knee swelling, which Heel pain.
progressively worsens. Not being able to go on tiptoe with
the hurt leg.
If a partial rupture (tear) occurs, you
may have near-normal strength and
less pain after the initial injury.
TREATMENT, MEDICATION AND
MANAGEMENT
ACL Tear Depending on level of injury, surgery may be needed to
reconstruct the ACL within the knee. If surgery is not needed, then another
form of treatment would be physical rehabilitation.
Avoid wearing shoes with cleats Stretch and strengthen calf muscles.
in contact sports. Vary your exercises.
Avoid wearing high-heeled
Choose running surfaces carefully.
shoes.
Increase training intensity slowly.
Avoid sports that involve lots of
twisting and contact.
Stretch and strengthen the leg
muscles (quadriceps and
hamstrings).
Practicing landing with the
knees bent after jumps.
REFERENCES
I. "Most Common Sports Injuries." Lower Extremity (2013): n.pag. Sports Injury
Clinic . Web. 27 Jul 2013. <http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries>.
II. "Sports Injuries Directory." Knee and Foot Injuries (2012): n.pag. WebMD.
Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/sports-injuries-
directory>.
III. "Sports Medicine ." How are sports injuries classified and managed? n.pag.
NSW HSC Online. Web. 28 Jul 2013.
<http://hsc.csu.edu.au/pdhpe/options/medicine/4035/3-1/op3_1_1.htm>.
IV. "An Athlete's Nightmare." Tearing the ACL. 3.3 (2008): 24-26. Web. 28 Jul.
2013.
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/summer08/articles/sum
mer08pg24-26.html>.
V. "Everything About Achilles Tendon." Achilles Tendon Injury (2012): n.pag.
AchillesTendon.com. Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://achillestendon.com>.
VI. Mayo Clinic Staff, . "Plantar Fasciitis." All about Plantar Fasciitis (2013): n.pag.
MayoClinic . Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/plantar-
fasciitis/DS00508>.