How are sports injuries prevented, treated and rehabilitated?
Acute and chronic injuries and their intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, the methods used to prevent injury, the immediate management of acute injuries, and the rehabilitation methods that restore performance.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on injury prevention and rehabilitation: acute and chronic injuries and their intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, the warm-up, screening and conditioning used to prevent injury, the PRICE and SALTAPS approach to acute management, and the rehabilitation methods that restore strength, flexibility and proprioception.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to distinguish acute from chronic injuries, identify their intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, describe how injuries are prevented, explain the immediate management of an acute injury, and explain the rehabilitation methods that restore performance.
Acute and chronic injuries
Risk factors
Preventing injury
A good warm-up raises muscle temperature, increases blood flow and prepares the muscles and joints, reducing strain risk. Screening identifies muscle imbalances, poor movement patterns and previous injuries before they cause problems. Strength and conditioning (including core stability and flexibility work) makes tissue more resilient, correct technique reduces abnormal loading, and protective equipment (shin pads, mouthguards, helmets, taping and bracing) guards against impact. Sensible periodisation with adequate recovery prevents the overload that causes chronic injuries.
Immediate management of an acute injury
Rehabilitation
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20184 marksDistinguish between an acute and a chronic injury, and give one intrinsic and one extrinsic risk factor for injury in sport.Show worked answer →
A Component 01 Section B knowledge question. Marks for each definition and each risk factor.
Award marks for: an acute injury happens suddenly from a specific incident (for example a sprained ankle, a fractured bone or a torn hamstring from a sprint), with immediate pain and swelling. A chronic (overuse) injury develops gradually over time from repeated stress (for example tendinitis, a stress fracture or shin splints). An intrinsic risk factor comes from within the performer (for example poor technique, muscle imbalance, fatigue, age or previous injury). An extrinsic risk factor comes from outside (for example a hard or uneven surface, faulty or wrong equipment, cold weather or a dangerous opponent).
Markers reward the sudden-versus-gradual distinction and one genuine factor from each category.
OCR 20218 marksAnalyse how a performer with a sprained ankle should be managed immediately and rehabilitated to return safely to sport.Show worked answer →
A Component 01 extended-response (levels of response) question. Markers reward accurate management (AO1), application to the ankle (AO2) and a reasoned rehabilitation plan (AO3).
Award credit for: immediate management follows the PRICE principle (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to limit swelling and tissue damage in the first 48 to 72 hours; pitch-side, the SALTAPS process (See, Ask, Look, Touch, Active, Passive, Strength) assesses whether the player can continue. Rehabilitation then progresses gradually: early on, gentle mobility and reducing swelling; next, restoring range of movement and strength with resistance work; then proprioceptive and balance training (wobble board) to restore the joint position sense that is often lost; finally, sport-specific functional drills and a graded return to full training and competition once pain-free and strong. A reasoned answer judges that proprioceptive training is essential to prevent re-injury, and that the return must be graded, not rushed.
A top answer sequences the rehabilitation from swelling control to functional return and justifies proprioceptive work against re-injury.
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR A Level Physical Education (H555) specification — OCR (2016)