Information On Sports Medicine Russellville Residents May Find Beneficial

By Jennifer Cook


Sporting activities are diverse, depending on what tools are used, rules of the game and how much physical movement is involvement. Those in which a lot of body movement is involved tend to put the players at a higher risk of getting injured. Such activities include football, rugby, athletic jumps, boxing and wrestling. Others include swimming, playing hockey and baseball among others. We will look at some of the key concepts on sports medicine Russellville residents may be interested in.

The musculoskeletal system is the backbone of sports medicine. Those who train in this particular field are expected to have knowledge of human anatomy like the back of their hand in order to treat their patients with the precision required. The musculoskeletal system is essentially made up of muscles, bones, joints and the associated soft tissues including ligaments, menisci, tendons, nerves and blood vessels.

At the very basic level, sports medicine professionals. Hold a degree in medicine to enable them treat the individual as a whole, without just focusing in the injured body part. Sometimes, the individual may require resuscitation as part of what is termed the primary survey. Therefore, having basic medical knowledge and skills is an added advantage.

Under normal circumstances, the anterior cruciate ligament limits forward movement of the leg at the knee joint. When it gets injured, the knee becomes lax and the leg cannot be properly supported. It may be associated with pain, inflammation and limping. The victim is advised to rest the joint for an appreciable amount of time before resumption of play. This allows time for the affected tissues to heal and fall back into place. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the tear. Primarily, the knee should be splinted to limit movement that may exacerbate pain and cause further injury.

Tears in the anterior cruciate ligament result in unlimited anterior movement of the tibia against the femur. This means that the individual lacks control of how their injured limb moves. As a result, they can no longer play with precision. The victim is usually in uncontrollable pain and their movement becomes compromised. It is prudent that the area is splinted to minimize pain and avoid further injury. Analgesic drugs should be used as per the recommendation of the doctor.

In addition to knee and ankle injuries, the head is also bound to be injured if it is not well protected. Injuries may happen as a result of irresponsible use of playing material. This means that one may get injured by a baseball bat, a hockey stick or even a soccer ball when great impact is involved.

The head is also a common site, other than the lower limbs. Injury to the head should be regarded as being serious until proven otherwise. This is because one may not have any obvious external soft tissue damage but they may be bleeding on the inside, literally. Damage can happen in so many ways depending on what game is being played and the character of players involved.

The head can be protected by use of protective helmets in games that require it. The knees are usually protected using knee pads. In games such as baseball, the chest is guarded using special gear worn around the chest. All in all, it is crucial to be cautious when playing with fellow human beings to avoid unnecessary injuries.




About the Author: