What is Skeletal Injuries? Skeletal Injuries In Physical Education.

Skeletal Injuries

The bones in our body from a structure that is called a skeleton. Bones of our skeleton are connected together to from joints which are held firmly together by strong white fibrous bands called ligaments. Injury to bones or ligaments can seriously affect the functioning of a body part. Skeletal injuries can be broadly classified into two categories.:-

• Bone Injuries.
• Joint Injuries.

1. Bone Injuries

      Fractures

Injuries to ab bone may result in the development of a crack in the bone or breaking up of the bone. When a bone cracks or bushes, it is termed as a fracture.

Fracture may be classified with the following categories:

1. Simple Fracture :- This is a fracture in which a bone is broken, but there is no damage to the surrounding tissues.
2. Green-stick Fracture:- This is a fracture in which the bone may develop a crack and be bent, without breaking completely. Such fractures often take place among children when the bones are soft.
3. Complicate Fracture :- In this type of fracture, breaking of the bone is accompanied with injury to the surrounding tissue or some important internal structure such as lungs, kidney, liver or brain etc.
4. Compound Fracture :- It is a fracture in which the broken end or ends of a bone may protrude or pierce through the skin.
5. Com-minuted  Fracture :- In this type of a fracture, a bone is broken at more than one place.
6. Impacted Fracture :- It is a fracture in which the broken ends of bones are driven into on place.

Signs and symptoms of a Fracture

1. Severe pain at the point where fracture is suspected.
2. Swelling around the suspected fracture point.
3. The place of injury is very sensitive to touch and a slight pressure causes discomfort and pain.
4. Irregularity may be felt in the bone on touching.
5. Loss of power, weakness or trembling at the point of fracture.
6. Deformity of the limb can result in loss of natural shape. A comparison with the other normal body part can help in arriving at some conclusion.
7. Inability to perform material movements of the part affected.

General treatment 

1. Steady the injured part with some support to prevent any further deterioration. This becomes all the more important if there is some bleeding or wound etc.
2.  One Should immobilize  the fracture by using bandage and by splint a splints. The bandage should not be applied on the point of fracture. It should be firm and not be tight, to prevent harmful movements. While apply the bondage, one must use the body for support. Improvised splints may be used.
3. Bandage must be applied according to the requirements of injured part.
4. For transporting the injured person to a hospital, a sitting position is desirable but in complicated cases he/she should be transported in a lying position on a stretcher.

Rehabilitation 

    After getting clearance from the doctor and when supportive bandage is not required, then begin daily exercises (rehabilitation) prescribed.

  2. Joints Injuries

   A joint is formed by the meeting of two or more bones of the skeleton. Joints in our body help us in performing different types of movements. A joint, depending on its type, may allow for slight movement, free movement or no movement at all.

       Therefore we can classify the joints as follows:

1. Immovable Joints:- In these joints, bones are united either by cartilage, as in the case of first rib and the sternum, or with saw like edge as in the skull.
2. Slightly movable:- Such joints are formed by surfaces united together by ligaments or by ligaments with fibrous cartilage placed in between the bony surface as in the case of joints between the bodies of vertebrae.
3. Freely Movable :- In such joints the two ends of bones are covered with cartilage and connected by a fibrous capsule. The capsule is lined with synovial membrane which secretes a fluid to lubricate a joint.

         Freely movable joints are :

1. Hinge joint. Such joints allow movement in one place only as in the case of elbow of knee joint.
2. Gliding joint. Examples of such joints are true joints between the processes of adjacent vertebrae.
3. Condyloid joint. In this type of joint a convex joining surface fits into a concave joining surface as in the case of wrist joint.
4. Pivot Joint . In this joint, a pivot like process, rotates along its long axis as in the case of atlas and the vertical process of Axis.
5. Saddle Joint. The joining surface of such a joint is concave- convex. A saddle joint allows movements like a condyloid joint. The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is an examole.
6. Ball and socket joint. In this joint the spherical head of a bone fits into a cup like cavity as in the case of hip and shoulder joints.

                 Injuries to joints impair joint movements. 

Dislocation

       Dislocation is an injury to a joint when adjoining bones are displaced from their real position. Ligaments that bind the joints also get injured frequently in a dislocation.

       Fractures also occur frequently with dislocations. Injury to the ligaments in a dislocation is called ligaments sprain. Shoulder, elbow, thumb, finger joints are the joints that get dislocated frequently.

Signs and Symptoms of Dislocation 

1. Swelling at the joint may be visible.
2. Severe pain over the joint.
3. Deformity in the shape of a joint.
4. Inability to make movements of the joint easily.

General Treatment 

1. Do not try to adjust or reduce the dislocation yourself.
2. let the injured person sit on a chair or on a bed in comfortable position.
3. Steady and limb in a comfortable position by using some cushion or padding.
4. Keep the person warm.
5. Get proper medical aid as soon as possible.

         The Doctor should be able to re-align the dislocated bones within six hours of injury. Delay can result in many tissues losing their elasticity.

        Joint Injuries or dislocation are very often complicated affair, therefore should not be taken lightly.

      

      Some of the preventive measures in dislocation can be as under:-

1. Sportsperson/ Individuals must blind their overall strength and muscle tone with a long  term conditioning/fitness programme according to the need of their game or sport.
2. Adequate warm up should be before game/match or any physical activity.
3. One must wear protective devices/ equipment during contact sports.
4. Irregular surface should be avoided for running or track events.