Quick questions on Injury prevention, rehabilitation and return to play: HSC Health and Movement Science Focus Area 2

Intrinsic risk factors are characteristics of the athlete:

Acute load (this week's training and games) vs chronic load (the average over the previous 4 weeks). A common framework is the acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACWR), where sudden spikes (ratio above approximately 1.5) are associated with elevated injury risk. The framework has some evidence support but also limitations: spike monitoring is one of several tools, not a complete prevention strategy.

Two named protocols common in HMS-relevant practice:

A typical rehabilitation pathway has four to five phases:

Return to play (RTP) decisions ideally use objective testing rather than time alone:

Concussion has specific protocols because the consequences of premature return are severe (second-impact syndrome, chronic effects).

Continuing to play after concussion symptoms raises the risk of severe second-impact injury, particularly in juniors. Modern protocols are explicit and conservative.

Strength testing and functional testing for return-to-play should match the demands of the athlete's sport (sprint and change of direction for football; landing mechanics for netball; throwing for baseball).

Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for sports injury, giving two examples of each. [4 marks]

Justify the use of objective return-to-play criteria (rather than time alone) for an athlete recovering from ACL reconstruction. [5 marks]

Explain why concussion management uses a graduated return-to-play protocol rather than allowing the athlete to return when they feel ready. [4 marks]