Intervention Questions
and Answers
3 phases of the healing process
✓~ inflammatory phase
fibroblastic repair phase
maturation-remodeling phase
Inflammatory phase
✓~ patients experience swelling, loss of function, increased pain, redness and increase in
skin temperature
AT can prevent excessive swelling and pain through
ice
compression
elevation
anti-inflammatory medications (if needed)
Fibroblastic Repair Phase
✓~ 4 days- 6 weeks
regeneration leads to scar formation
,Should all be maintained throughout the healing process:
cardiorespiratory endurance
muscular strength
flexibility
Maturation- Remodeling phase
✓~ scar tissue restructured to eliminate functional limitations using functional
strengthening techniques
Pain control theories
✓~ - gate control
- descending pathway
- opiate pain control/ release of B endorphins
gate control theory
✓~ the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals at the dorsal
horn
done with electrical stimulation
"closing the gate"
descending pathway pain control theory
,✓~ High intensity electrical stimulation near a noxious level can stimulate the descending
neurons and prevent transmission of pain information
B-endorphin theory
✓~ painful stimulus triggers the release of an analgesic chemical
point stimulation with electrical currents near the site of injury or along trigger points
can trigger the release
Pharmacological protocols
✓~ ATs must follow the laws that their state has when it comes to distributing medications
Pharmacological protocols: Fever
✓~ if 99.5-102 may administer 325 mg acetaminophen every 4 hours if needed
if 102 or greater, physician should be consulted
Pharmacological protocols: watery nasal discharge
✓~ 30 mg pseudo ephedrine (Sudafed) every 6 hrs if needed
should not be given 4 hours prior to play or if in post season play
Pharmacological protocols: cough
, ✓~ with no mucous or clear mucus
10mL Robitussin DM every 6 hours as needed
may cause drowsiness and should not be administered 4 hours prior to activity
consult physician if-
green/ rusty colored mucus
continuous severe cough
Preoperative phase
✓~ allowing initial inflammation to resolve prior to surgery while maintaining strength,
flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance
Acute inflammatory response phase
✓~ body works to clean up the injured area and create an environment conductive to
healing
POLICE
appropriate exercises to maintain strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory
endurance that do not exasperate the injury
nonfeasance
✓~ failing to act when an action should have been taken