Managing a Player Injury: 8 Points to Remember

Injuries are a natural but unfortunate part of playing sports. There are more than 3.5 million sports-related injuries amongst children and teens each year in the United States. These injuries account for almost one-third of all childhood wounds.

When an injury occurs on the field, it's crucial that you can respond with confidence. A coach is not expected to take a doctor's place — but they need to make critical decisions on whether a player is fit to continue after a trauma. While this may sound intimidating, preparation is key and there are steps to follow to stay well-equipped should the situation arise.

Keep reading to discover eight points to remember when managing a player injury.

1. Identify Red Flags

Red flags signal that something may be wrong. They act as a warning and warrant closer inspection. Limping, loss of balance and falls are all indicators of potential red flags. As the coach, you must pay attention during games, because some players may not alert you if they sustain an injury.

2. Stay Calm

It's your responsibility to stay calm for your players. You need a clear mind to evaluate the seriousness of the injury. Anxiety and fear will cloud your judgment and interfere with the decision-making process.

3. Ask for the Story

Begin by asking your player to convey their side of the story. Ask them to describe what happened, how it felt and where it hurts. Descriptors like "pop," "crack" or "tear" should immediately catch your attention. If they use these words or are expressing severe pain, it may be a serious injury.

4. Evaluate the Injury

Take a closer look at the damage, but do not touch. What do you see when you look at the injured area? Are there signs of blood or broken bones? Does the area look swollen or bruised?

Minor injuries may not be visible immediately after trauma. However, if the area instantly bruises, swells, bleeds or looks misshapen it indicates a serious injury. If the trauma is severe — or if the person is unconscious — call an ambulance and consult a licensed physician.

5. Request Movement

If the player has experienced a neck or back injury, do not ask them to move. Otherwise request that they try to move the injured area. If they have their full range of motion without severe pain, the trauma is probably minor. On the other hand, the inability to move is generally a sign of serious damage.

6. Feel for Trauma

Before making a decision, gently feel the area experiencing trauma. Players may understate the pain. Lightly press on the impacted area and ask them to rate their discomfort. If the pain is severe upon mild contact, it should be considered a serious injury.

7. Make the Call

When in doubt, keep them out for the remainder of the game. Safety is more important than winning. Continuing to play after sustaining an injury can make the problem worse and may require a longer healing time.

8. Utilize Physical Therapy

There are several types of physical therapy that can be utilized to help heal the body after an injury. Manual therapy, aquatic therapy and cryotherapy are all effective treatments that help reduce recovery time.

Manual Therapy

When you think of physical therapy, your mind may go to manual techniques. Manual therapy is hands-on and may involve kneading and manipulating muscles and joints.

Myofascial release (MFR) is one manual therapy technique that's used frequently on sports athletes. It involves applying pressure to myofascial tissue restrictions in order to restore motion and eliminate pain.

Aquatic Therapy

Also known as hydrotherapy or aquatic rehabilitation, this practice takes place in a pool or another aquatic environment. Aquatic therapy is great for treating people post-surgery or those experiencing chronic pain. The immersion in warm water can help to increase joint range of motion and decrease depression and pain.

Aquatic treatments are beneficial for all age groups because the exercises can be performed for longer periods due to low joint impact.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves exposing the body to extremely low temperatures. Depending on the treatment, it's possible to target one area or the entire body. Typically, treatment is only a few minutes long. This treatment has a positive effect on pain reduction and can reduce inflammation. It can also reduce migraine symptoms and numb nerve irritation, making it a useful therapy method for players with sports injuries.

Lead the Team

An injury can be scary to teammates. Act as a leader by encouraging your team to rally behind the injured player. They should support one another both on and off the field. Crowding an injured player can make it difficult to breathe, so ask players to take a knee if trauma occurs.

By remembering these eight points, you can feel confident at managing injuries that occur during a game. So take a deep breath and keep coaching!

Author Bio:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.