Physiology and Injuries in Sports (Exercise Physiology, Sports Injuries and First Aid)
This section tests exercise physiology-how the body responds to and adapts to exercise-and the recognition and first aid of common sports injuries. Answers need correct terminology and safe priorities.
Exercise physiology
- Acute responses occur during or immediately after exercise: heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output rise; ventilation increases; blood flow shifts to working muscles; sweating and body temperature rise; lactate accumulates as intensity increases.
- Chronic adaptations follow repeated training: lower resting heart rate, larger stroke volume, improved capillarisation and mitochondrial density, and greater strength and tendon resilience after resistance work.
Injury types and first aid
- Sprain = ligament; strain = muscle or tendon; fracture = bone; dislocation = displaced joint surfaces; contusion = bruise; abrasion = skin graze.
- First-aid priorities: danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation; control bleeding; immobilise a suspected fracture; never force a dislocation back; remove a concussed player from play and seek medical assessment.
- For an acute soft-tissue injury, protect/rest, apply ice for about 15–20 minutes with a barrier, compress and elevate. Avoid heat, alcohol, massage and early running.
Worked example
A player rolls an ankle and has swelling over the outside of the joint. Reason it as an inversion sprain: stop play, check danger and responsiveness, use a wrapped ice pack, apply compression and elevate. If there is severe deformity, numbness or inability to bear weight, immobilise and refer rather than testing the joint by running.
Traps
- Applying heat or massage in the first 24–48 hours.
- Confusing sprain with strain.
- Returning a player to play after suspected concussion.
- Reducing a dislocation or ignoring circulation below a fracture.