SCS Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the return-to-sport continuum, which criterion is considered most predictive of re-injury risk for a quadriceps strain?
- Absence of pain at rest
- Limb symmetry index above 90% on strength testing (Correct answer)
- Full passive range of motion
- Normal gait pattern at walking speed
Correct answer: Limb symmetry index above 90% on strength testing
A limb symmetry index (LSI) above 90% on isokinetic or functional strength testing is widely used as a threshold before return to full sport activity.
Question 2: Which ankle sprain type accounts for approximately 85% of all ankle sprains seen in athletes?
- High ankle (syndesmotic) sprain
- Medial (deltoid ligament) sprain
- Lateral ankle sprain (ATFL/CFL complex) (Correct answer)
- Subtalar ligament sprain
Correct answer: Lateral ankle sprain (ATFL/CFL complex)
Lateral ankle sprains involving the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) represent roughly 85% of all ankle sprains.
Question 3: What does the acronym POLICE stand for in modern acute injury management?
- Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation (Correct answer)
- Pain control, Opioid use, Load, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Protection, Observation, Load, Ice, Circulation, Exercise
- Prevention, Optimal Load, Immobilization, Cold, Elevation
Correct answer: Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation
POLICE (Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation) updated the older RICE protocol by emphasizing early optimal loading to promote healing.
Question 4: Which training modality is most appropriate during the early phase of ACL rehabilitation (first 2 weeks post-surgery) to maintain cardiovascular fitness?
- Plyometric bounding
- High-intensity interval running
- Pool walking or aqua jogging (Correct answer)
- Cycling at maximal resistance
Correct answer: Pool walking or aqua jogging
Aqua jogging and pool walking allow cardiovascular conditioning while minimizing compressive and shear forces on the healing graft.
Question 5: An athlete has chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy. Which exercise approach is best supported by current evidence for tendon remodeling?
- Complete rest until pain resolves
- High-volume low-load stretching only
- Heavy slow resistance (HSR) training (Correct answer)
- Passive modalities such as ultrasound alone
Correct answer: Heavy slow resistance (HSR) training
Heavy slow resistance training stimulates collagen synthesis and tendon remodeling, outperforming rest or passive modalities in chronic tendinopathy.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of neuromuscular training in ACL injury prevention programs such as PEP or FIFA 11+?
- Increase sprint speed
- Improve landing mechanics and dynamic knee stability (Correct answer)
- Maximize hamstring flexibility
- Build aerobic base for endurance
Correct answer: Improve landing mechanics and dynamic knee stability
Neuromuscular training improves landing mechanics, reduces valgus collapse, and enhances dynamic knee stability, directly lowering ACL injury rates.
Question 7: Which risk factor is most strongly associated with non-contact lower extremity injury in team-sport athletes?
- High training monotony combined with acute training load spike (Correct answer)
- Low resting heart rate
- High aerobic capacity
- Bilateral strength symmetry above 95%
Correct answer: High training monotony combined with acute training load spike
A rapid spike in acute training load relative to chronic training load (high acute:chronic workload ratio) combined with monotonous training significantly elevates injury risk.
SCS Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation 3
During the return-to-sport continuum, which criterion is considered most predictive of re-injury risk for a quadriceps strain?