Spinal Deviations, First Aid, and Musculoskeletal Injuries

Posted on Nov 28, 2024 in Physical Education

Spinal Deviations

Kyphosis

Kyphosis is characterized by an excessive outward curve of the spine, resulting in a rounded upper back (hump).

Hyperlordosis

Hyperlordosis is a pathologically accentuated physiological lumbar lordosis, or an excessive inward curve of the spine.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a lateral deviation of the spine, often caused by hereditary factors or poor posture.

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column, or spine, is composed of 33 vertebrae and forms our principal structural support, enabling upright posture. The number of vertebrae is as follows: cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacral (5), and coccygeal (4).

Muscle Tone and Posture

Muscle action maintains upright posture. Muscle tone ensures our stability. Proper alignment involves the neck, shoulders, lower back, pelvis, hip joints, knee joints, and ankles. Shoulders should be relaxed and slightly pulled back; the stomach should be held in; the pelvis should be up and slightly forward.

First Aid

First aid is the immediate assistance given to someone suddenly injured or ill. Its purpose is to relieve pain and anxiety, prevent further injury, and stabilize the person until professional medical help arrives.

General Rules

  • If you don’t know what to do, do nothing.
  • Do not move the affected person.
  • Call for medical assistance.
  • Examine the casualty.
  • Assess wounds.
  • Keep calm.
  • Keep the injured person still and lying down.
  • Loosen tight clothing.
  • If choking and unconscious, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage.
  • Place an unconscious person in the recovery position.

Injuries

Wounds

  • Stitches: Produced by sharp objects like awls or needles.
  • Incised: Clean-cut wounds.
  • Blunt: Damage to skin and underlying tissues.

Complications: Hemorrhage and infections (serious complications due to wound contamination).

Luxations (Dislocations)

Luxations occur when a bone is displaced from its joint. The joint should be immobilized, and the injured person evacuated to a health center.

Sprains

Sprains involve injury to the ligaments within a joint, without bone displacement. Apply ice, immobilize, and evacuate.

Fractures

Fractures are bone breaks:

  • Closed: The skin is intact.
  • Open: The bone protrudes through the skin.

Burns

Burns are tissue injuries caused by heat:

  • 1st degree: Affects the skin’s surface layer, characterized by redness.
  • 2nd degree: Presents with blister formation.
  • 3rd degree: Affects the subcutaneous tissue, destroying it. (Do not use ointments).

Exposure (Sunstroke)

Exposure results from excessive sun exposure, particularly to the head. Remove clothing, apply cold compresses to the head, provide fluids, and cool the body.

Electric Accidents

Electric accidents can cause loss of consciousness, local irritations, and injuries. Do not touch the person if they are still in contact with the electrical source. Avoid rough physical contact. Seek immediate medical attention.

Poisoning

Poisoning produces nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Identifying the toxic substance is crucial. Counteract the poison with an antidote if available.

Bites and Stings

Dog, cat, rodent, and snake bites are frequent. Insect stings from scorpions, spiders, and centipedes are also common. Wash bites thoroughly with soap and water, apply antiseptic, and get a tetanus shot. Remove stings by scraping, not squeezing, and apply ammonia solution. For poisonous bites, keep the victim still and apply a tourniquet 5-8cm above the bite.

Lipotimia (Fainting)

Fainting is characterized by cold sweats and paleness due to temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. Raise or lower the limbs and position the head lower than the heart.

Shock

Shock is a depression of many organic functions due to insufficient blood circulation. Characteristics include clammy skin, bluish lips, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and dilated pupils.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy involves sudden falls and rigid body posture, with facial and neck congestion. Convulsions (shaking) follow. Do not restrain the person or place anything in their mouth.

Asphyxia (Choking)

Attempt to dislodge the obstructing object. If conscious, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). If unconscious, perform CPR. For conscious adults and children over 1 year, apply sudden pressure to the abdomen (Heimlich maneuver). For infants under 1 year, alternate back blows and chest thrusts.

Urgency Techniques

Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation

Tilt the head back, pinch the nostrils closed, take a deep breath, seal your mouth over the victim’s mouth, and forcefully blow air into the victim’s lungs to fill the thorax.

HACED (RICE)

HACED is an acronym for Hielo (Ice), Alivio (Relief), Compresión (Compression), Elevación (Elevation), and Diagnóstico (Diagnosis). In English, this is commonly known as RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Concussion

A concussion is a head injury resulting from a direct impact.

Contusion

A contusion is a bruise, involving damage to muscle tissue and blood vessels.

Torn Tendon

A torn tendon is a rupture of a tendon.

Contracture

A contracture is an involuntary, painful, and permanent muscle contraction due to overload.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon.

Cramping

Cramping is a sudden and unexpected muscle spasm.

Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) involves microdamage to muscle fibers.