SPORTS INJURIES

EXAM REVISION
QUESTIONS
A basketball player twists their ankle in a game and has to leave the court.
a) Describe the immediate treatment that they should use. (4 marks)
b) The injury does not respond to the treatment. Describe two other treatments that
could be used to help recovery. (3 marks)
 Mark Scheme
a)
 RICE
 Rest – stop the activity as soon as the injury occurs to prevent making
it any worse.
 Ice – applied to injured area for 10-15 mins then taken away for 20
mins (and repeat). Reduces internal bleeding and swelling.
 Compression – Reduces swelling and so speeds recovery.
 Elevation – elevate injured area above heart. Reduces swelling and
inflammation.

b)
 Cryotherapy – the use of cold temperatures (e.g. cryogenic chambers)
 Hyperbaric chambers / oxygen tents
 Hypoxic tents (simulating high altitude to promote red blood cell
production).
Warm-up and warm-down are useful in preventing injury and in aiding the recovery
process after intense exercise.
a) What activities would you include in the warm-up and why? (4 marks)
b) What would you include in the warm-down and why? (3 marks)
 Mark Scheme
a)
 5-10 min light cardiovascular activity to raise body temperature
and enhance elasticity of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint
structures.
 Range of dynamic exercises to addressing key major muscle
groups.
 Ensure that exercises are sports specific.
 Gradual increasing of intensity.
b)
 Light cardiovascular activity to prevent blood pooling and to deal
with excess muscle lactic acid.
 Static stretching to help muscles and tendons relax, stopping
them becoming tight.
 Warm-down helps prevent delayed onset muscle soreness
(DOMS).
Rapid recovery from injury is vital for elite performers and they now use a wide range of injury recovery techniques.
For each of the following methods describe the treatment and its purpose.
a) Cryotherapy (2 marks)
b) Proprioceptive retraining (3 marks)
c) Therapeutic massage (2 marks)
 Mark Scheme
a)
 The general or local use of cold temperatures in the treatment of injury.
 Ice baths and cryogenic chambers are often used as part of post-match recovery.
 Stops internal bleeding to reduce swelling and aid recovery.
b)
 A series of exercises aimed at rebuilding the performer’s proprioceptive sense.
 Proprioception is the body’s awareness of position, movement and changes in
state of balance.
 This information comes from proprioceptors in joints, tendons and muscles as
well as visual and auditory senses.
 Retraining activities include hopping on a trampette, balance board exercises etc.
c)
 Application of massage techniques to the muscle and connective tissues to
enhance sports performance.
 Used to increase range of movement / flexibility and to relieve muscle soreness.
 May help injury prevention and promote faster recovery.
 Research of its benefits is inconclusive.
For a named sport, describe the steps that a performer could
take to reduce their chances of injury, prior to competition. (7
marks)
 Mark Scheme
 Must name a sport.
 Ensure that correct protective equipment is worn/used (make
specific to the sport).
 Ensure that appropriate footwear is worn.
 Use taping and bracing to support weak areas of the body.
 Ensure that the body is fully conditioned to take part in the sport
(link to specific sport).
 Core strength training to provide the body with stability and reduce
chance of injury (esp lower back).
 Strengthening muscles to prevent repetitive strain injuries.
 Ensure that adequate rest is allowed during training to avoid the
risks associated with overtraining.
 Ensure that diet is appropriate for performers training level.
 Ensure that an appropriate warm-up is undertaken prior to the event
including a cardiovascular pulse-raiser and a series of dynamic
exercises and stretches.
How may hyperbaric chambers aid injury rehabilitation? (3
marks)

 A. Reduces pressure at injured area/reduces swelling

 B. (Chamber) delivers oxygen at high pressure
 C. Approximately 2.5 more times than normal/100%
pure oxygen
 D. Haemoglobin/red blood cells fully saturated with
oxygen
 E. Excess oxygen dissolved in plasma
 F. Oxygen reaches parts of body that not normally
saturated
 G. Increased white blood cell activity at injury site
 H. Increased blood supply/formation of new blood cells
How can a performer reduce the effects of delayed onset of
muscle soreness (DOMS)? (3 marks)

A. Active warm-up/Active warm-down/cool

down/stretching
B. Avoid eccentric contractions early in session
C. Gradually increase intensity of workload
D. Massage
E. Ice baths
Explain how the use of an ice bath can help reduce the
‘delayed onset of muscle soreness’ (DOMS). (4 marks)

A. (Involves sitting in ice cold water for) between 5 – 20

minutes
B. Causes blood vessels to tighten/decreases metabolic
activity/vasoconstriction
C. Restricting blood flow to the area
D. Reduces swelling/tissue breakdown/aids muscle repair
E. After leaving the ice bath, area is flooded with new
blood/vasodilation
F. Fresh oxygen removes lactic acid (when out of the ice
bath)
G. Some studies suggest ice baths of limited value
Rest and recovery plays a vital role in any elite athelte’s
training program. Describe the main symptoms of
overtraining and ways to avoid this occuring. (7 marks)
Symptoms:
 Deep muscle soreness

 Nagging injury

 Difficulty in training hard enough to reach desired heart rate level

 Loss of apetite

 Recurring sore throat etc as a result of depressed immune system

 Sleeping problems

Ways to avoid overtraining:

 Allow sufficient recovery time

 Restrore glycogen stores after hard sessions

 Never train when ill

 Build up training loads gradually (especially after illness/injury

 Use meditation and relaxation methods to improve sleep

 Ensure that diet is nutritionally balanced

 What is the LTAD and how what are the key aspects
of the FUNdamentals stage and the Learning to
Train stage?
 Long term athlete development programme – a generic strategy for the development of performers from
the nursery to the podium.
FUNdamentals (5-11 yrs)
 Focus is on fun in every session

 Participation in wide range of sports

 Development of fundamental motor skills – running, jumping, kicking, catching, striking etc.

 Development of ABC (agility, balance, coordination)

 Low level training for speed and endurance through fun games

 Introduction of simple rules

 Strength training using own bodyweight.

Learning to Train (8-12)

 Further development of fundamental motor skills

 Learning general overall sports skills

 Continuing to develop strength using bodyweight, medicine balls etc

 Developing endurance with games and relays

 Introducing basic flexibility exercises

 Developing speed during warm-up activities

 Developing knowledge of warm up, cool down, stretching, hydration, nutrition.

 70-30 training-competition ratio.