What went Wrong
A basketball player lands on another player's foot and their ankle swells immediately.
Ankle Sprain
This joint allows the arm to rotate and move in many directions.
Shoulder
An injury to a ligament.
Sprain
Name one common sign of an acute orthopedic injury.
Pain, swelling, bruising, decreased movement (any one)
An athlete has swelling and pain immediately after an injury. Should they return to play?
NO
A football player is tackled and feels sharp pain in their shoulder with limited movement.
Shoulder dislocation
This body part connects the foot to the lower leg and allows push-off during running.
Ankle
An injury caused by overstretching or tearing a muscle.
Strain
What symptom is most commonly associated with inflammation?
Swelling
An athlete says, “It hurts, but I can push through it.” What is the safest decision?
Remove from play
A soccer player plants their foot, hears a “pop,” and feels instability in the knee
ACL Tear
This structure connects muscle to bone.
Tendon
A break or crack in a bone.
Fracture
Which symptom suggests nerve involvement after an injury?
Numbness or tingling
An athlete reports dizziness or numbness after an orthopedic injury. What should be done?
Remove from play and seek medical evaluation
A runner develops lower leg pain that worsens over time and improves with rest.
Stress fracture or Shin splints
This joint connects the femur and tibia and allows flexion and extension.
Knee
An ankle injury with swelling after twisting the joint.
Sprain
What visible sign strongly suggests a fracture rather than a sprain?
Deformity or bone protrusion
Why is it dangerous to return an athlete to play with an unstable joint?
Increased risk of further injury or long-term damage
A wrestler falls on an outstretched hand and the wrist appears deformed.
Wrist Fracture
This structure connects bone to bone and stabilizes joints.
Ligament
An overuse injury causing small cracks in the bone.
Stress Fracture
An athlete reports increasing pain over time with activity but no single injury event. What type of injury does this suggest?
Chronic or overuse injury
An athlete refuses to leave the game despite obvious injury. What is the sports medicine professional’s responsibility?
Athlete safety—remove from play regardless of athlete opinion