Tissue Properties
Ligaments
- Tough bands of white, fibrous tissue that allow for some flexibility, but not as much as muscles or tendons.
- Attach bone to bone
- ‘Static stabilizers’ of joints meaning they done have much give
- Avascular – their nutritional needs are not met through blood
- Patellar ligament (attaches the patella to the tibia)
Tendons
- Composed of bundles of white, fibrous protein known as collagen
- Attach muscle to bone
- ‘Dynamic Stabilizers’ of joints since they provide a little more movement.
- Vascular – nutritional needs are met through the blood supply
- Bones and muscles are also vascular
- The more vascular a tissue is, the less time it takes to recover from an injury.
- Patellar (Quadriceps) tendon (attaches the rectus femoris to the patella)
Common Sport Injuries
- Sprains, strains, pulls, and tears
- Terms used to describe injuries to all joint tissue types, e.g. inversion ankle sprain.
- Tendinitis
- Inflammation of a tendon caused by irritation due to prolonged or abnormal use, e.g. Achilles tendinitis
- Any condition ending in ‘itis’ means inflammation to that particular organ
- E.g. bursitis – inflammation of bursa
- E.g. arthritis – inflammation of the joints
- Dislocation
- Bone is displaced from its original location
- Usually involves damage to the joint capsule and the ligaments that hold the bones together
- More severe cases may also involve the muscles and tendons
- General symptoms are an awkward deformed appearance, pain when touched or moved and the fact that the joint is not usable.
- Separations
- Fibrous ligaments that bind the bones tear and the bones separate from each other
- This commonly occurs at the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder and is called a shoulder separation.
- Cartilage
- Torn cartilage at the ends of bones and free-moving joints
- Common in the knee in basketball and football
- Cartilage is Avascular, so these injuries take time to heal.
- Shin splints
- Occurs on the medial or lateral side of the tibia
- Caused by tearing of the interosseous membrane (located between the tibia and fibula) or the periosteum (the lining of the bone)
- The risk factors for shin splints are similar to those for stress fractures (sudden change in frequency, duration or intensity of training; old or improper footwear; training on hard or uneven surfaces) and if left untreated, can lead to stress fractures.
Proper Treatment of an Injury
| S.H.A.R.P (signs an injury has occurred) | P.I.E.R. Principle (what to do when an injury occurs) |
| Swelling: instantly or over time | Pressure: tensor wrap (during and in between icing) |
| Heat: increased temperature in the area | Ice: placed on affected area (10-20 minutes on, 10-20 minutes off) |
| Altered: tissue will not function properly | Elevate: above the heart, to reduce swelling |
| Red: in colour | Restrict: with tensors or slings and rest, with crutches if necessary |
| Painful: to touch or move | DO NOT use heat. It will promote swelling and make diagnosis difficult. |
