Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Flashcards

A baseball pitcher develops elbow pain on the medial side that worsens during the late cocking and acceleration phases. The most likely diagnosis is:

Answer: Ulnar collateral ligament stress injury

The UCL experiences peak valgus stress during late cocking and acceleration in overhead throwing, making medial elbow pain in pitchers highly suspicious for UCL injury.

Which measurement tool best quantifies an athlete's hip abductor strength in a clinical or field setting?

Answer: Handheld dynamometer

A handheld dynamometer provides a reliable, portable, and quantifiable measure of hip abductor force output suitable for field-based testing.

What does a positive drop-jump test with excessive knee valgus indicate in female soccer players?

Answer: Increased risk of ACL injury due to faulty landing mechanics

Excessive knee valgus on drop-jump landing reflects neuromuscular deficits that significantly increase ACL injury risk and warrant corrective training.

Which phase of a plyometric program is most appropriate for an athlete six weeks into return-to-sport training after a Grade I ankle sprain?

Answer: Bilateral low-intensity stabilization jumps progressing to unilateral hops

Six weeks post Grade I sprain, bilateral low-intensity jumps progressing to controlled unilateral hops is appropriate before advancing to higher-intensity reactive drills.

An athlete's acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) reaches 1.6 during pre-season camp. What is the recommended response?

Answer: Reduce training load to bring the ratio below 1.3

An ACWR above 1.5 represents a 'danger zone' associated with sharply elevated injury risk; load should be modulated to bring the ratio into the 0.8–1.3 'sweet spot'.

Which of the following is an example of a secondary injury prevention strategy?

Answer: Early rehabilitation and modified return-to-play after a mild hamstring strain

Secondary prevention involves early intervention after an injury has occurred to minimize severity and prevent recurrence, such as prompt rehab after a strain.

What is the most important determinant of safe progression in a return-to-sport rehabilitation program?

Answer: Criterion-based milestones including strength, function, and psychological readiness

Criterion-based progression using objective measures of strength, movement quality, and psychological readiness is safer and more effective than time-based progression alone.