INJURIES
IN SPORTS
MUSCLES
INJURIES IN SPORTS
Konstantinos
Natsis,
Greece
Muscle injuries have attracted
great attention in recent years because they are misunderstood and
maltreated. They are common in sports. Muscle tears and strains
comprise 4-15% of all injuries and along with contusion strain and
bruising comprise 10-30%
Muscle injuries sustained in sport
are essentially no different from those sustained in other activities
but the degree of damage, particularly secondary damage such as
haemorrhage and haematoma formation may be greater in athlete
exercising tissue that is metabolically more active than in tissue at
rest.
They are produced by extrinsic trauma and intrinsic
trauma and the predisposing factors are immobilization, muscle
imbalance, inadequate fitness, inadequate warm up and inadequate warm
down-post exercises stretching.
There are three degrees of
muscle strain. In first degree strain there is some discomfort during
movement. In second degree the muscle contraction is impossible because
of pain and in third degree strain there is lack of functional capacity
of the muscle.
For the treatment we must use both
mobilization and immobilization. The principles of treatment in the
first 2-3 days are ice, compression, immobilization, protection,
unloading, elevation and rest. The aim of treatment in the
first 2-3 days is to stop bleeding, minimize oedema, prevent further
injury, minimize loss of function and to promote healing. In these days
we must avoid repeated trauma, massage, heat, ultrasound, cortisone
injections and active stretching.
The treatment after 2-3 days
includes: Early mobilization and several types of muscle exersices. We
apply surgical treatment in large intramuscular haematomas, 3rd degree
strain or tear and in 2nd degree when up to 50% of the muscle belly is
torn.
A suture should be removed immediately and
immobilization is required for 3-10 days
The athlete can
return to sports when there is no pain during muscle exersices.
The
complications of muscle injuries are compartment syndrome, myositis
ossificans, old muscle tear and chronic muscle and tendon strain
The
evaluation of the prognosis depends on the type of injury, the
treatment time, the healing time and the value of
laboratory tests (CPK, SGOT, SGPT, LDH, Mb)
In
conclusion, we can say that muscle injuries are common in sports, the
knowledge for treatment is limited, they must be treated seriously and
they must be prevented by warming up, stretching, flexibility and
training.
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