totaps
Once an injury has been deemed non-life-threatening, the TOTAPS procedure should be followed. This allows the extent and nature of the injury to be further assessed, and if the injury is safe to play with. The TOTAPS procedure is as follows;
Talk
Ask the netball player a range of questions t determine the possible extent of the injury. E.g. Where does it hurt? Did you hear anything crack or pop?
Observe
Check the injured site for swelling, colour change or abnormalities. This can be done by comparing the site (ACL or shoulder) to the corresponding part (other ACL or shoulder)
Touch
Gently use your hands to feel around the injury for any tenderness, heat, abnormalities or swelling. To accurately find the source of pain, gently push around the area starting from the outside and moving in.
Active Movement
In order to assess the function and mobility of the injury, ask the player to move the injured site around by themselves. Watch for any signs of pain or the inability to achieve the full range of movement
Passive Movement
If the player does not have their full range of movement, a qualified coach or sports trainer should gently move the injured site around to allow a proper assessment of the movement ability of the site
Skills
If all steps have been cleared by the athlete, ask them to perform some physical skills to determine whether they are fit to return to play. These skills may include; running, changing direction, kicking, jumping and etc. If signs of discomfort, pain or inability to complete the skill are demonstrate, then the player should be taken out of play and assessed by a medical professional.
Talk
Ask the netball player a range of questions t determine the possible extent of the injury. E.g. Where does it hurt? Did you hear anything crack or pop?
Observe
Check the injured site for swelling, colour change or abnormalities. This can be done by comparing the site (ACL or shoulder) to the corresponding part (other ACL or shoulder)
Touch
Gently use your hands to feel around the injury for any tenderness, heat, abnormalities or swelling. To accurately find the source of pain, gently push around the area starting from the outside and moving in.
Active Movement
In order to assess the function and mobility of the injury, ask the player to move the injured site around by themselves. Watch for any signs of pain or the inability to achieve the full range of movement
Passive Movement
If the player does not have their full range of movement, a qualified coach or sports trainer should gently move the injured site around to allow a proper assessment of the movement ability of the site
Skills
If all steps have been cleared by the athlete, ask them to perform some physical skills to determine whether they are fit to return to play. These skills may include; running, changing direction, kicking, jumping and etc. If signs of discomfort, pain or inability to complete the skill are demonstrate, then the player should be taken out of play and assessed by a medical professional.
How to manage a dislocated shoulder
If an individual has dislocated their shoulder, they will be in severe pain and may have some swelling or bruising on the shoulder, a medical professional should immediately be called or the patient taken to a hospital. Whilst the injured person is waiting for medical treatment, it is recommended to place an ice pack on the effected area to aid the swelling. Making sure the patient keeps their arm close to their body and immobile will also help lessen the pain. Before commencing with treatment, the patient should first be taken to receive an x-ray to see if there are any fractures that have been caused by the dislocation. This should ideally be done before the shoulder is relocated. After the x-ray has shown there to be no visible fractures, a medical professional can aid in safely relocating the shoulder. This process should NOT be done by the patient or by a medically untrained other as if it is done incorrectly there can be serious damage to the cartilage, bones, ligaments, nerves and muscles surrounding the the shoulder. After the shoulder has been properly relocated, the patients affected arm will be placed in a sling for 2-4 weeks to allow the connective tissue to heal. After the arm has been removed from the sling, the patient will need to visit a physical therapist to learn stretches that will aid in recovering full shoulder movement. Most people will be able to return to full physical activity after 4-6 months. If any discomfort or pain is felt after the sling has been removed, it is advised that the patient returns to see their doctor or physiotherapist.
how to manage an acl injury
As an ACL tear is a soft tissue injury, the RICER (rest, ice, compression, elevation, referral) procedure should be followed. The knee should be rested in an elevated position, ensuring the knee is above the level of the heart to aid in blood flow. An ice pack should then be applied to the injury for 20 minutes every 2 hours. Never apply an ice pack directly onto the skin as it can cause redness and a burn, instead wrap it in a piece of cloth or towel. After applying ice to the injury it should be wrapped in a compression bandage to reduce both swelling and bleeding. Once the injury has been compressed the patient should be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible. The medical professional will be able to judge the severity of the injury and recommend appropriate treatment to the patient. They may take an x-ray and/or MRI to confirm the extent of the injury. The most common treatment for a torn ACL is surgical reconstruction, which involves replacing the torn ligament, although this is not the only treatment.