Understand how Intrinsic factors can influence the risk of injury

Question 1

Identify four intrinsic factors that can influence the risk of injury.

Answer 1

• Psychological factors
• Posture and Causes of Poor Posture
• Individual Variables
• Physical Preparation

Question 2

What are the three psychological factors that can influence the risk of injury

Answer 2

• Arousal/anxiety levels
• Motivation
• Aggression

Question 3

How can arousal levels increase the risk of injury?

Answer 3

Being overaroused- making a reckless challenge for the ball in netball

Being underaroused- not concentrating when batting in cricket and being hit with the ball

Question 4

How can motivation affect the risk of injury?

Answer 4

Increase risk of injury- overtraining or wanting to train when injured could damage muscles & joints

Decrease risk of injury- greater effort put into training and rehabilitation so skill and fitness level develops. Therefore less likely to become injured

Question 5

How can aggression affect the risk of injury?

Answer 5

Increase risk of injury- too aggressive and injure self or others e.g. two footed tackle in football

Decrease risk of injury- committed to sport so less likely to get hurt in contact e.g. putting head in correct position in a rugby tackle

Question 6

Identify four causes of poor posture.

Answer 6

• Poor stance/gait
• Badly fitting clothing & footwear
• Fatigue
• Poor sitting position (slouching)
• Lack of exercise
• Physical defects/previous injuries

Question 7

Name four individual variables and describe how they can increase the risk of injury

Answer 7

Sleep- lack of sleep leads to fatigue so recover from injury slower and make poor decisions

Flexibility- if less flexible then increased risk of muscle tears

Previous injuries- site of injury is weaker so more likely to reinjure

Gender- women have less muscle mass than men- increased risk of muscle tears and ligament damage

Age- older people (65+) are more of risk of fractures as bones are more brittle

Nutrition- overweight: increased risk of heart attacks and diabetes

• malnourished: poor diet muscles don’t repair properly more likely to suffer muscle tears

Question 8

Name four areas of physical preparation and describe how they can increase the risk of injury.

Answer 8

Warm up- not warming up increases chance of muscle strains

Cool down- not cooling down means muscles will be more stiff and sore after training

Fitness levels- poor fitness levels will increase risk of injury e.g. poor strength increased risk of neck injuries in a rugby scrum

Muscle imbalances- increases risk of muscle strains e.g. footballers quadricep muscles stronger than hamstrings

Overuse injuries- training too hard and often can lead to overuse injuries (e.g. shin splints)

Unsafe Training Methods

Question 9

Identify three injuries related to poor posture.

Answer 9

• Scoliosis
• Kyphosis
• Lordosis
• Rounded Shoulder
• Pelvic Tilt

Question 10

Identify 3 symptoms and two causes of scoliosis

Answer 10

Symptoms

• ‘S’ or ‘C’ shaped spine
• One shoulder higher than the other
• back pain
• leaning to one side

Causes

• muscle imbalance
• overcompensating due to previous injury
• one sided activities e.g. javelin, racket sports

Question 11

Identify 3 symptoms and two causes of kyphosis

Answer 11

Symptoms

• rounded upper back
• upper back pain
• forward head position

Causes

• poor sitting postion/slouching
• previous injury to spine
• muscle imbalances

Question 12

Identify two symptoms and two causes of lordosis.

Answer 12

Symptoms

• excessive curve of lower back
• lower back pain

Causes

• muscle imbalances (tight hamstrings and tight hip flexors)
• overtraining