Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management

A wide variety of anatomical structures can be involved in a sports injury. To return to play as soon as possible is of utmost importance to an athlete, and in order to achieve this, a correct, all-inclusive diagnosis, a well-focused treatment plan, and a management plan that strives to offer protec...

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Main Authors: C. Janse van Rensburg, K. Nolte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2011-01-01
Series:South African Family Practice
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Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1623
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author C. Janse van Rensburg
K. Nolte
author_facet C. Janse van Rensburg
K. Nolte
author_sort C. Janse van Rensburg
collection DOAJ
description A wide variety of anatomical structures can be involved in a sports injury. To return to play as soon as possible is of utmost importance to an athlete, and in order to achieve this, a correct, all-inclusive diagnosis, a well-focused treatment plan, and a management plan that strives to offer protection are essential. This article aims to give an overview of acute and overuse (chronic) sports injuries in adults, the approach to an accurate diagnosis and the management strategies that are available. A literature review was conducted of scientific journals, text and internet material, including a Medline and PubMed search. Literature was selected for its in-depth data and well-researched information. Key search terms included “acute and overuse injuries”, as well as “sports injuries diagnosis and management” to address current and relevant scientific data on the examination and management of sports injuries in adults. The literature review indicated that sports injuries (both acute and overuse) are increasing in number due to the growing interest in physical activity and sport, as well as the enhanced intensity of training programmes. Adults are vulnerable to both types of sports injuries, and the age of occurrence of overuse injuries varies in competitive and non-competitive athletes. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis cannot be overemphasised. To assist the clinician in making an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive history, physical examination and appropriate special investigations are mandatory. Familiarity with the demands of the athlete’s sport may also prove useful. The approach to the management of acute and overuse injuries differs, with the emphasis in acute injuries being on treating the effect (torn, broken, displaced) and in chronic injuries on treating the cause (intrinsic or extrinsic). There have been numerous advances in the management of sports injuries, however further research is still warranted in this area. Follow-up articles will focus more in-depth on specifics with regard to clinical examination, special investigations and management options.
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spelling doaj-art-ba076939d77b4a4db1eb18b2394f83a22025-08-20T03:07:10ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042011-01-0153110.1080/20786204.2011.108740554536Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and managementC. Janse van Rensburg0K. Nolte1Section Sports Medicine, University of PretoriaInstitute for Sports Research, University of PretoriaA wide variety of anatomical structures can be involved in a sports injury. To return to play as soon as possible is of utmost importance to an athlete, and in order to achieve this, a correct, all-inclusive diagnosis, a well-focused treatment plan, and a management plan that strives to offer protection are essential. This article aims to give an overview of acute and overuse (chronic) sports injuries in adults, the approach to an accurate diagnosis and the management strategies that are available. A literature review was conducted of scientific journals, text and internet material, including a Medline and PubMed search. Literature was selected for its in-depth data and well-researched information. Key search terms included “acute and overuse injuries”, as well as “sports injuries diagnosis and management” to address current and relevant scientific data on the examination and management of sports injuries in adults. The literature review indicated that sports injuries (both acute and overuse) are increasing in number due to the growing interest in physical activity and sport, as well as the enhanced intensity of training programmes. Adults are vulnerable to both types of sports injuries, and the age of occurrence of overuse injuries varies in competitive and non-competitive athletes. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis cannot be overemphasised. To assist the clinician in making an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive history, physical examination and appropriate special investigations are mandatory. Familiarity with the demands of the athlete’s sport may also prove useful. The approach to the management of acute and overuse injuries differs, with the emphasis in acute injuries being on treating the effect (torn, broken, displaced) and in chronic injuries on treating the cause (intrinsic or extrinsic). There have been numerous advances in the management of sports injuries, however further research is still warranted in this area. Follow-up articles will focus more in-depth on specifics with regard to clinical examination, special investigations and management options.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1623sports injuriesathletic injuriesmusculoskeletal injuriesinflammationoveruse injuriesacute injuriesdiagnosistreatmentadults
spellingShingle C. Janse van Rensburg
K. Nolte
Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
South African Family Practice
sports injuries
athletic injuries
musculoskeletal injuries
inflammation
overuse injuries
acute injuries
diagnosis
treatment
adults
title Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
title_full Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
title_fullStr Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
title_full_unstemmed Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
title_short Sports injuries in adults: Overview of clinical examination and management
title_sort sports injuries in adults overview of clinical examination and management
topic sports injuries
athletic injuries
musculoskeletal injuries
inflammation
overuse injuries
acute injuries
diagnosis
treatment
adults
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1623
work_keys_str_mv AT cjansevanrensburg sportsinjuriesinadultsoverviewofclinicalexaminationandmanagement
AT knolte sportsinjuriesinadultsoverviewofclinicalexaminationandmanagement