Prevention of InjuryPrevention of Injury

Minimising RiskMinimising Risk: :

Appropriate Level of Competition; Appropriate Level of Competition; Clothing / Footwear; Correct Technique; Clothing / Footwear; Correct Technique;

Knowledge of Safety Procedures; Knowledge of Safety Procedures; Lifting / Carrying Correctly; Personal Lifting / Carrying Correctly; Personal

Protective Equipment; Rules / Codes / Protective Equipment; Rules / Codes / Laws; Warm up / Cool DownLaws; Warm up / Cool Down

Appropriate Level of Appropriate Level of CompetitionCompetition

Participation = activity + Participation = activity + participantsparticipants

The elements on the right hand side of this The elements on the right hand side of this equation must be matched or appropriate. equation must be matched or appropriate. Appropriateness should be based on:Appropriateness should be based on:

AGEAGE SEXSEX PHYSICAL SIZE / WEIGHTPHYSICAL SIZE / WEIGHT

In most cases there are clear guidelines laid In most cases there are clear guidelines laid down by school sports governing bodies. At down by school sports governing bodies. At other times it comes down to commonsense other times it comes down to commonsense and careful monitoring eg MSF not a good and careful monitoring eg MSF not a good mixed activitymixed activity

AgeAge

Wherever possible players should compete in Wherever possible players should compete in the appropriate age group. They should the appropriate age group. They should always participate in the correct age group in always participate in the correct age group in the following cases:the following cases:Physical contact activitiesPhysical contact activitiesCompetitive participationCompetitive participation

Age raises issues associated with the risk of Age raises issues associated with the risk of injury, the likelihood of fair play and the injury, the likelihood of fair play and the demotivation of students when competing demotivation of students when competing against older playersagainst older players

GenderGender

Most sports have traditionally been single sex. Most sports have traditionally been single sex. Many of the reasons for this are no longer Many of the reasons for this are no longer considered to be valid and certain changes have considered to be valid and certain changes have taken place:taken place:

• More sports are now played by men and women More sports are now played by men and women eg netball, cricket, rugby, basketball, eg netball, cricket, rugby, basketball,

footballfootball• Some sports are actually played as mixed eg Some sports are actually played as mixed eg

equestrian events, shooting, archery, hockeyequestrian events, shooting, archery, hockey• Some sports are played as mixed sports until a Some sports are played as mixed sports until a

certain age group eg association football, certain age group eg association football, netballnetball

Size / WeightSize / Weight

This is recognised and legislated for in only a This is recognised and legislated for in only a small number of sports eg boxing, small number of sports eg boxing, weightlifting, wrestling. In other activities size weightlifting, wrestling. In other activities size can be used to gain advantage without can be used to gain advantage without penalty.penalty.

Until relatively recently there has been little Until relatively recently there has been little concern over the potential danger resulting concern over the potential danger resulting from size disparity.from size disparity.

Teachers in UK schools must take action to Teachers in UK schools must take action to ensure that size mis-matches in lessons are ensure that size mis-matches in lessons are minimised if not removed completely.minimised if not removed completely.

Size is the most crucial of the 3 in terms of Size is the most crucial of the 3 in terms of injury preventioninjury prevention

FootwearFootwear

Inappropriate footwear is potentially a Inappropriate footwear is potentially a hazard eg smooth trainers on wet grass, hazard eg smooth trainers on wet grass, unlaced bootsunlaced boots

Some activities need technically Some activities need technically specialised footwear eg ….? Other specialised footwear eg ….? Other provide protection eg….? In some cases provide protection eg….? In some cases both are important eg skiingboth are important eg skiing

Why are earrings, necklaces, zips, Why are earrings, necklaces, zips, buckles potentially dangerous?buckles potentially dangerous?

Correct TechniqueCorrect Technique

Important in context of injury Important in context of injury prevention.prevention.

Give some examples where poor Give some examples where poor technique could be dangerous.technique could be dangerous.

Give some examples of activities Give some examples of activities which should not be attempted which should not be attempted without first attaining some level without first attaining some level of competency.of competency.

Knowledge of Appropriate Knowledge of Appropriate Safety ProceduresSafety Procedures

In order to conduct activities safely the In order to conduct activities safely the following are required:following are required:– General risk assessmentGeneral risk assessment– Identification of specific hazardsIdentification of specific hazards– Injury prevention policies / proceduresInjury prevention policies / procedures

Identify some specific issues that you feel are Identify some specific issues that you feel are of relevance in terms of safety for one of of relevance in terms of safety for one of your nominated activitiesyour nominated activities

Personal Protective Personal Protective EquipmentEquipment

The need to minimise risk of injury The need to minimise risk of injury sometimes necessitates the sometimes necessitates the wearing of protective equipmentwearing of protective equipment

In some activities it is compulsory In some activities it is compulsory to wear protective equip eg to wear protective equip eg shinpads in football, helmet in shinpads in football, helmet in cricket……….cricket……….

In others it is a matter of discretionIn others it is a matter of discretion

Rules, Codes, LawsRules, Codes, Laws

The rules of any sport should:The rules of any sport should:» Establish a set of procedures which is a clear Establish a set of procedures which is a clear

basis for fair competitionbasis for fair competition» Set clear guidelines as to acceptable and Set clear guidelines as to acceptable and

unacceptable practice and identify sanctions to unacceptable practice and identify sanctions to be used against offendersbe used against offenders

Many sports involve physical contact or the use of Many sports involve physical contact or the use of dangerous implements and every player has a dangerous implements and every player has a responsibility to control their own behaviour, responsibility to control their own behaviour, irrespective of the nature of the activity or the irrespective of the nature of the activity or the provocation of others, both on and off the field of provocation of others, both on and off the field of playplay

Warm up / Cool downWarm up / Cool down

A hastily executed warm up routine A hastily executed warm up routine can result in pulled muscles, can result in pulled muscles, strained ligaments or damaged strained ligaments or damaged jointsjoints

Warm up - for good performance, Warm up - for good performance, avoiding injuryavoiding injury

Cool down – gradual recovery from Cool down – gradual recovery from physical exertion, gradual return to physical exertion, gradual return to normal functioning levels, less likely normal functioning levels, less likely to be sore or stiffto be sore or stiff

Personal HygienePersonal Hygiene

Rather than avoiding injury, personal Rather than avoiding injury, personal hygiene is necessary to reduce the risk hygiene is necessary to reduce the risk of incapacity. There are a number of of incapacity. There are a number of skin afflictions that are almost entirely skin afflictions that are almost entirely the result of poor personal hygiene. the result of poor personal hygiene. The most common infections are:The most common infections are:– Athlete’s foot – a fungal infection usually Athlete’s foot – a fungal infection usually

affects the area between the toes or on affects the area between the toes or on soles of feetsoles of feet

– Verrucae – caused by virus embedded in Verrucae – caused by virus embedded in soles of feetsoles of feet

Minor skin infections and skin Minor skin infections and skin conditions can be avoided:conditions can be avoided:

» Shower using soap after all physical Shower using soap after all physical activityactivity

» Dry off thoroughly before dressingDry off thoroughly before dressing» Never wear same clothes, esp Never wear same clothes, esp

undergarments, during and after physical undergarments, during and after physical activityactivity

» All personal items of PE / sports clothing All personal items of PE / sports clothing should be washed after use. Even mouth should be washed after use. Even mouth guards!guards!

Correct Clothing / Correct Clothing / FootwearFootwear

Clothing fulfils 3 major purposes:Clothing fulfils 3 major purposes:– An expression of identity (team strip)An expression of identity (team strip)– Insulation from the elementsInsulation from the elements– Protection for the intended activityProtection for the intended activityIs fashion relevant?Is fashion relevant?What is appropriate in terms of What is appropriate in terms of

modesty/cultural tradition?modesty/cultural tradition?What is reasonable in terms of cost / What is reasonable in terms of cost /

availabilityavailability