Physical Assessment of the Injured Athlete

1
Physical Assessment of the Injured Athlete

• Sports Medicine 1
• Mr. Smith

2
Todays Agenda

• HIPS Evaluation Process
• SOAP Evaluation Process
• Learn it, you are expected this upcoming year to
  use it and present all injuries to me in this
  format

3
HIPS Evaluation Process

• H History (verbal)
• I Inspection (visual)
• P Palpation (feeling)
• S Special Tests (all the specific details of
  the injury)
• I dont expect you to know all the special
  tests.. yet.

4
History

• All the questions that you can think of regarding
  the injury and more!!!
• Mechanism of Injury (MX)
• How they hurt them self- Weight bearing,
  twisting, contact, fallingetc.
• Any previous injury to the area?
• If so, break it down. Did they see the doctor?
  Diagnosis? Surgery? Missed practice time?
• Why is this question important?

5

• Unusual sensations?
• Description of pain- location, type, severity, is
  it constant? Dull? Achy? Radiating? What makes it
  worse/ better?
• Have them point to the exact spot that it hurts
  the most
• Determine whether the injury is acute or chronic
• Determine how long the athlete has had the
  symptoms and whether or not they disappear

6
Inspection

• Visual inspection of area for
• Edema (swelling)
• Amount and location
• Ecchymosis (bruising)
• Deformity
• Fractures, tendon rupture, dislocation etc
• ALWAYS compare bilaterally
• Notice altered gait (walking pattern) and/or
  posture

7
Palpation

• Learn your anatomy!!!
• Pull out an anatomy book or reference if you are
  unsure of the anatomy
• Start away from the suspected injury site and
  work towards the identified area
• Why is this important?
• Palpate bony anatomy, soft tissue anatomy
  (muscle, ligaments, tendons)

8

• Palpate surrounding and immediate area for
• Tissue temperature differences
• To determine whether or not there is inflammation
  in the area
• Pain
• Deformity
• Swelling
• ALWAYS COMPARE BILATERALLY!!

9
Special Tests

• Range of Motion (ROM)
• Active and Passive
• Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) or Resistive Range of
  Motion (RROM)
• Special Tests
• Tests the integrity of the specific structures
• You should know the most common special tests
  already
• Example Ankle and knee assessments

10
SOAP Notes

• S- Subjective
• What the athlete tells you
• O-Objective
• What you observe
• A- Assessment
• Diagnosis
• P- Plan
• What you do with the athlete after they see you
• Including ice, heat, stretch, calling home,
  referral, sitting out from practice etc.

11
Questions?

• Questions? Comments? Concerns?
• You need to know one of these types of evaluation
  processes like the back of your hand!