Injury Prevention and Movement Screening Flashcards

Bone stress injuries (stress fractures) in athletes are most commonly associated with which triad of risk factors?

Answer: Low energy availability, low bone mineral density, and menstrual dysfunction (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport — RED-S)

The RED-S framework (formerly the Female Athlete Triad) identifies low energy availability leading to hormonal disruption and reduced bone mineral density as the key drivers of stress fracture risk.

Proprioceptive training is incorporated into injury prevention programs primarily to:

Answer: Enhance sensorimotor control and joint position sense, reducing the risk of recurrent sprains

Proprioceptive training improves the speed and accuracy of neuromuscular responses to joint perturbations, reducing re-injury risk especially following ankle and knee sprains.

In the context of tendinopathy management, the Silbernagel cumulative loading model emphasizes:

Answer: Continued activity is acceptable as long as pain does not exceed a manageable threshold (≤5/10) and does not worsen the next morning

The Silbernagel model allows continued participation if pain remains at or below 5/10 and returns to baseline by the next morning, preventing the deconditioning associated with complete rest.

A sport scientist notices that a sprinter's peak power output in weekly testing has declined 8% over 3 consecutive weeks without explanation. What is the most likely cause to investigate first?

Answer: Non-functional overreaching or early overtraining syndrome

A sustained, unexplained multi-week decline in performance markers is a hallmark signal of non-functional overreaching, requiring immediate load reduction and recovery investigation.

Which landing mechanics variable is most consistently associated with increased ACL injury risk, particularly in female athletes?

Answer: Dynamic knee valgus (medial knee displacement) during single-leg or bilateral landing tasks

Dynamic knee valgus — the inward collapse of the knee during landing — is the most commonly observed biomechanical risk factor for non-contact ACL injuries in prospective studies.

What is the recommended approach when an athlete tests positive for a clinically significant asymmetry on a strength assessment but is currently asymptomatic?

Answer: Implement a targeted corrective exercise program to address the asymmetry before it leads to injury

Addressing strength asymmetries proactively through targeted programming reduces future injury risk even in the absence of current symptoms, consistent with a preventive sport science approach.