Emergency Sports Injury Assessment

The knee joint is one of the most commonly injured joints. Acute knee injuries can be caused by a direct blow, sudden twisting, an instability event or a fall onto the knee. Acute knee injuries often present clinically with a knee joint swelling, locking of the knee or focal knee pain. Acute knee injuries will be seen promptly.

An acute shoulder injury may occur from a fall on an outstretched arm, lifting a heavy object, a direct blow to the shoulder, or abnormal twisting or bending of the shoulder (such as a violent throwing action). Pain may be sudden and severe. Bruising, swelling and deformity may develop soon after the injury. Acute shoulder injuries will be seen promptly.

Acute injuries of the ankle are among the most common injuries of the musculo-skeletal system. A twisting mechanism is the most common injury pattern that results in either a fracture (break) or ligament injury (sprain). An ankle sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. They range from mild to severe, depending upon how much damage there is to the ligaments.

Most sprains are minor injuries that heal with home treatments like rest and applying ice. However, if your ankle is very swollen and painful to walk on — or if you are having trouble putting weight on your ankle at all, you should have it reviewed. Without proper treatment and rehabilitation, a more severe sprain can weaken your ankle—making it more likely that you will injure it again. Repeated ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, and ongoing instability.

Acute ankle injuries will be seen promptly.