Injuries of the Knee Joint

The following scenario relates to our standard on Injury assessment of the knee and also our standard relating to understanding and practicing legal and ethical standards in healthcare.

Read the following passage and respond to the essay questions:

The law suit was unusual, but the story wasn’t. It involved high stakes sports and negligence.

Mike O’Malley had excelled in high school academically as well as athletically. He was varsity quarterback for all four years, and everyone expected him to be drafted by a professional team. After graduating from high school, he received a full scholarship to a very well known university and immediately became the starting quarterback on the football team.

The high school coach, Frank Inset, felt very close to Mike and was watching his career with interest and concern. He went to many games to see Mike play. One day, at an important game, Frank was watching a play through his binoculars. He noticed Mike was limping slightly. During another play, Mike was tackled and did not get up immediately. Frank was concerned. He continued to watch even during the time-outs to see how the coach would handle the situation. Frank thought that Mike should be taken out of the game.

That didn’t happen. Mike played the rest of the game. By the end of the day, he was in severe pain. He went to the emergency room that night and was admitted into the hospital immediately. He was found to have serious damage to his knee, and was told he needed surgery. Doctors felt that he would need months of physical therapy following the surgery and might have permanent damage. His college football career was probably over, and he would almost certainly never play professional football.

Frank told Mike’s parents of his concerns about the college coach’s decision during the game. He felt the damage would have been much less if Mike had been taken out of the game as soon as he was injured. Mike’s parents saw an attorney who said they might have a case against the university and the coach.

Essay Questions:

What is negligence, from a legal point of view? Use the following link to assist you in answering: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence
If you were Mike’s attorney, how would you argue the case? Give three arguments.
If you were the attorney for the university or the coach, how would you argue the case? Give three arguments.
Should the university have rules that control a coach’s behavior in such situations? Why or why not?
Describe how you think this situation may have been handled if there was an athletic trainer present?
Do you think that universities should be required to have an athletic trainer, or a medical person available at games? Explain why.
In pro football, an athlete often has a contract that requires him to be paid even if he is injured. Is this right? Why or why not?

Knee Structure

March 21, 2014 | Posted in Uncategorized | By drsmespinoza

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Introduction to the Knee Joint

March 19, 2014 | Posted in Uncategorized | By drsmespinoza

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Standard:

Injury Assessment, Evaluation, Prevention and Treatment

HS-PPM-11: Students will analyze the anatomy, muscular structure, vascular structure, ROM, MMT and special tests, as well as prevention and treatment of the knee joint.

Assignment:

The knee is a complex and important joint in the body. Take Cornell notes on the following slides about the knee joint:

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3-7-2014

March 6, 2014 | Posted in Uncategorized | By drsmespinoza

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Assignment:

1. finish your project and email it to mespinoza@atlanta.k12.ga.us

2. Take Cornell style notes on the following article:

E.Q. What are common causes of hip sprains?

Hip strains in sports: Common causes, symptoms and treatment of hip strains

By David Mangusan Jr., PTRP, Mar 8, 12:35 pm EST

Hip strains are common in sports activities that require the athlete to perform sudden movements such as running and jumping. Hip strains happen when any of the muscles or the tendon surrounding or attaching to your hip is either stretched beyond its limit or torn, causing symptoms. Most cases of hip strains can be treated with rest, ice, medication and physical therapy. Severely torn muscles may need to be surgically repaired.

Common Causes of Hip Strains

Hip strains occur as a result of any of your surrounding hip muscles or tendon becoming overly stretched. Sometimes, tearing of the fibers, either partial or complete, can also occur depending on the severity of your injury. In athletes, a direct blow to any of their hip muscles or overstretching can cause strains. In others, their hip strain may be associated with repetitive use or overuse of their muscles.

Athletes who have had injury to their hip muscles are at risk having one again. Not warming up and doing stretching exercises before a strenuous activity may also put you at risk for hip strains. Sports activities at risk for hip strain include football, soccer, rugby, basketball, and long distance running or sprinting.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of a hip strain is pain over the involved muscle. Your pain may worsen if you try to move your injured hip. Other symptoms may include swelling, especially with tearing of the muscle fibers; tenderness at the site of stretch or tear; you may have muscle weakness; and bruising. Sometimes, you may hear a “pop” at the time of your injury, which may indicate that a muscle or tendon is torn.

Common Hip Strain Treatments and Rehabilitation

Most cases of minor hip strains can be effectively managed with rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE therapy). Do not continue playing your sport as this may worsen your injury. Avoid movements that add stress to your injured muscle. Rest and apply an ice pack over your injured muscle for 20 minutes per application to help relieve your pain and reduce your swelling. You can do icing 3 to 4 times daily for the first few days following your injury or until swelling has subsided.

Apply a compression or elastic bandage to help reduce swelling. If you are unsure of how to properly do bandaging, ask a trained professional, such as your physical therapist or doctor to do it for you. Elevate your injured limb above the level of your heart while resting. Taking an over the counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help with your symptoms.

You can perform simple hip range of motion exercises, stretching and strengthening exercises once your symptoms go away. Your physical therapist can provide you with a list of safe exercises that you can perform at home. Your therapist can teach you how to safely do those exercises.

Surgery may be recommended for a severely torn muscle. You may also be advised to use crutches for a while until your muscle heals.

About the Author: David Mangusan Jr. is a licensed physical therapist and an instructor at the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City, Philippines.

References:
Hip Strains. Website, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Physical Therapy for Hip Pain. Website, Physical Therapy (PT) Notes
Sprains and Strains. Website, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

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Principles of Physical Medicine

Injuries of the Knee Joint

Make a chart containing each of the following conditions of the knee.

Law and Ethics in Sports and Healthcare

Read the following passage and respond to the essay questions:

Knee Structure

Introduction to the Knee Joint

Standard:

Injury Assessment, Evaluation, Prevention and Treatment

Assignment:

3-7-2014

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