ORTHOTIC

MANAGEMENT
FOR SPORTS
INJURY
Objective
■ To get a overview of the injuries due to sports activities
■ A brief discussion about its symptoms and types
■ Orthotic management of the same
Introduction

■ Injuries that occur during athletic activities

■ Commonly include musculoskeletal injuries
1. sprains
2. strains
3. swollen muscles
4. rotator cuff injuries
5. knee injuries
6. fractures and
7. dislocations
What can be the possible Causes

■ Accidents
■ Poor Training Practices
■ Improper Equipment
■ Insufficient Warm up
 Sports Injury

Acute
Chronic
(Sudden
(Overuse)
Onset)

Extrinsic Intrinsic
 Swelling

Pain Stiffness

Symptoms
Instability Weakness

Numbness
& Redness
Tingling
What are the injuries in Foot and Ankle?
■ The foot and ankle are among the most common sites for both acute and
chronic injuries
■ seldom life-threatening but often detrimental
■ Limits the abilities to run, jump, kick, and change directions
■ Ankle Sprain
■ Plantar Fasciitis
■ Achilis Tendonitis
■ Turf Toe
■ TA rupture
Management

Following points must be considered

■ Type of Injury
■ Severity of Injury
■ Healing time
■ Type and level of activity
■ Foot type and biomechanics
■ Footwear worn during activity
■ External supports such as bracing or taping can be worn during activity
Orthotic Management

Heel Cup Rigid and Semi- Ankle Stirrup

rigid Shoe Insert

Ankle Lace up Ankle Stabilizer

Injuries around Knee Joint
■ Common during contact and non-contact sports
■ Compromised knee joint structure and stability
■ Leads to pain and eventually degenerative joint disease
1. ACL Injury
2. PCL Injury
3. MCL Injury
4. LCL Injury
5. Meniscus Injury
6. Articular cartilage Damage
7. Osteo-chondritis
8. Patella Dislocation
Goal

■ Immobilization
■ Off loading
■ Early return to ambulation
■ Stability
 Prophylactic

Functional
Knee Orthosis
Rehabilitative

Patello-femoral
Prophylactic:

■ Indicated for athletes at high risk for MCL injury

■ Reduces frequency and severity of MCL injuries following valgus knee stresses
■ Supports cruciate ligaments during rotational stresses
■ Enhances knee proprioception
■ But it also provides limited speed
Functional:

■ Protects ACL deficient knee

■ Protects knee with ACL reconstructed graft while returning to full activity
■ Reduces tibial rotation and knee AP translation
■ Decreases pain, enhanced performance
■ Improves confidence during athletics Control of knee hyperextension
■ Augments knee proprioception
■ Increase Energy expenditure
Rehabilitative Knee Brace:

■ Provided in ACL, MCL, PCL,LCL as well as multi-ligament injury

■ Long braces
■ Utilizes lever arm to prevent abnormal motion
■ Prevents excessive load
■ Allow early return to activity
Patello-femoral Braces:

■ Indicated in Patellar subluxation/ dislocation, Patellar tendonitis,

Chondromalacia of the patella, Postsurgical effusion control
■ Improves patellar tracking during knee flexion and extension
■ Dissipates lateral patellar forces
■ Decreases anterior knee pain syndromes
■ decreases pain,
■ enhances performance
What are the injuries at Hip and Thigh
Region?
■ Hamstring Strain
■ Hamstring Contusion
■ Hamstring Tightness
■ Quadriceps Strain
■ Quadriceps Contusion
■ Rupture of adductor Muscles
■ Inflammation of Iliopsoas Muscles
■ Rupture of Iliopsoas Muscle
Orthotic Management
Compression hip brace:

■ Made from flexible neoprene

■ Indicated in Hamstring injuries, sciatica and hip injuries
■ Compress hip to increase blood flow Faster Healing Prevents
Edema and Pain
Hip Support Brace:

■ Indicated for Hamstring Pull, Groin Strain, Hip flexor injury, Hip
Bursitis, Sciatic nerve pain etc.
■ Keeps hip stable during sports activities
■ Prevents re-injury
■ Increases blood flow
■ Decreases pain
Post-op Hip Brace:

■ Indicated after surgery of any hip injury

■ Reduces strain on muscle and joint
■ Inhibits hip flexion, extension and abduction
■ Keeps the hip joint at desired locking position
■ Made from aluminum shell and polyurethane foam padding, straps
Injuries at Back and Neck
■ Pain in the neck with or without radiation
■ Rupture of muscle in back
■ Tightness of muscle in back and neck
■ Whiplash Injury
■ Musculo-ligamentous Strain
■ Stinger
Orthotic Management

Cervical collar Cervical traction Lumbar Support

( Short tern Use, (Reduces pressure (Indicated for low
Prevent further on the nerve root, back pain, Cloth
nerve root injury) applied manually or material)
mechanically)
Injuries around Shoulder Joint

■ Fracture of clavicle
■ Fracture of Humerus
■ Frozen Shoulder
■ Dislocation of Shoulder Joint
■ Rotator Cuff Injury
■ Deltoid Strain
■ Supraspinatus Strain
Orthotic Management
Goal:
■ Decrease motion
■ Support area of Prior injury
■ Reduce Friction
■ Absorb energy of direct blow
Protective Restraining

Shoulder Stabilization
Shoulder Pads
Braces
Shoulder Pads:

■ Provided in contact sports like football, hockey etc.

■ Protects shoulder, clavicle, sternum and scapula
■ Composed of high impact plastic outer shell and inner lining
■ Light weight and flexible to permit ROM and at the same time
PROTECTS
■ Additional: rib and black plate, biceps pad , neck roll
Shoulder Stabilization Braces:

■ Indicated in case of non contact sports like gymnastics basket balls and overhead
throwing sports for preventive purpose
■ Indicated incase of gleno-humeral joint instability, dislocation of shoulder
■ Prefab braces made up of flexible material
■ Doesn’t restrict some movements like shoulder abduction and external rotation
■ Example: Sawa shoulder brace, Denison-duke Wyre harness, Shoulder
subluxation inhibitor
Injuries at Elbow, Forearm and Wrist
■ Lateral Epicondylitis
■ Medial Epicondylitis
■ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
■ Muscle and Tendon Inflammation
■ Dislocation of radius
■ Contusion
■ Ligamentous injury around elbow
Protective Restraining Counter force
I. Elbow sleeve I. Hinged I. Forearm
II. Elbow pad Brace strap
III. Protective II. Pull on
Forearm Pad sleeve
Elbow Sleeve:

■ Protective device for elbow joint

■ Made up of elasticized cotton or neoprene
■ Provides some protection
■ Provide warmth and compression to injured elbow joint
■ Indicated in football
Elbow Pad:

■ Protects elbow from direct blow

■ Its high impact plastic cup protects olecranon and distal humerus
■ Have dense foam padding over the forearm
■ Indicated in sports like hockey, Inline skaters etc.
Protective Forearm Pad:

■ Indicated in Football, Martial Arts, archery etc.

■ Made up of dense closed cell and open cell foam
■ Placed dorsally or ventrally according to the need
Hinged Elbow Brace:

■ Indicated incase of hyperextension injury at elbow joint, dislocation of

elbow
■ Provides more stability
■ Restrict ROM
■ Protects both from varus and valgus stress
■ Medial side hinge or both side hinges
■ Provides full or limited ROM based on the condition
Counter Force Brace:

■ Indicted in golfers elbow, tennis elbow

(Racket spots, baseball, javelin, golf, squash, weightlifting)
■ Proximal forearm strap, Pull on sleeve
■ Provides counter pressure distal to tendon origin
■ Deceases pain
Possible Hand Injuries
■ Metacarpal Fracture
■ Sprained Thumb
■ Sprained Finger
■ Boutonniere Deformity
■ Swan neck Deformity
■ Mallet finger
■ Drop Finger
Protective Gloves
• Indication: Hockey, Football, Cycling, Handball, Boxing, Ski, Baseball Soccer,
Golf
• Provide protection, Increase grip and warmth
• Different material and padding according to sports and its need
Supportive
• Indication: Mallet finer, Drop finger, Base ball finger, Metacarpal fracture,
• Foam padded aluminum finger splint
• Tandem finger straps
• Custom moulded thermoplastic splint to correct each deformity
Tandem Finger Finger Splint Protective Wrist wrap
Straps Gloves
Thank You