Assessment vs. Diagnosis

Assessment is the orderly collection of objective and subject data on the athlete’s health status

Diagnosis: using information form assessment and physical examination findings to establish the cause and nature of the athlete’s injury or disease

ONLY PHYSICIANS OR OTHER LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CAN DIAGNOSIS

Factors Influencing Athletic Injuries Anthropomorphic Data:

Size, weight, body structure, gender, strength and maturity level

Mechanism of Force: All energies involved at the time of an

impact Direction Intensity Duration Activity Position of body part

Factors Influencing Athletic Injuries Speed:

The > the speed the > the chance of injury Protective Equipment:

Designed to absorb and distribute force to avoid or lessen the severity of injury

Skill Level: Athletes performing at higher skill levels

have a reduced risk of severe injuries b/c of their increased knowledge of basic skill sets

Injury Evaluation

History (Hx) Obtain a history first. Don’t touch the individual until all

related questions has been asked Question witnesses of the incident

History

What happened? MOI? When did the injury occur? Where does it hurt? (now and time of

injury) Have you hurt this area before? Did you hear or feel a pop, snap, or rip? Pain Level? 1-10

0 = Pain 1-3 = Minimal pain 4-6 = Moderate Pain 7-9 = Severe Pain 10 = Emergency Room Pain

Hx Cont.

Type of Pain Sharp or dull/achy? Stabbing Throbbing Constant Cramping Intermittent Painful at rest or only with use

Any unusual sensations: numbness, tingling, pins-and-needles, prickling, muscle weakness, paralysis, burning sensation

Hx Cont.

Is there any instability? Sense of giving out Feeling weak

Taped or braced? Did you continue activity?

Obervation

Look at injury Compare bilaterally Obvious deformities Discoloration/ecchymosis Edema Muscle atrophy

Palpation

Touching the injured athlete’s bones, ligaments, and muscles and tendons

Start on uninjured side and then work to the joint above injury, finishing with the injured area

Palpate firmly Watch athlete’s face for signs of

wincing or pain.

Special Tests

Special Tests include testing for: Active Motion Passive Motion Strength Stability (ligamentous laxity)