Trauma can damage connective tissue, muscle, bone and brain tissue. The type and severity of injury depend on the magnitude, direction and duration of the force, as well as the tissue's ability to absorb that force.
How Trauma Causes Tissue Damage
In IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science subtopic B.3.1, trauma generally refers to injury caused by a sudden physical force. This may be a direct force, such as a collision, or an indirect force, such as twisting a planted knee.
When the applied force exceeds a tissue's tolerance, its structure is disrupted. The resulting damage can range from microscopic fibre tears to complete rupture, fracture or impaired brain function.
| Tissue | Mechanism and examples of damage |
|---|---|
| Connective tissue | Excessive stretching, twisting or impact can damage ligaments, tendons and cartilage. A sprain is damage to a ligament, while tendon injuries may include partial or complete tears. |
| Muscle tissue | Overstretching or forceful contraction can tear muscle fibres, producing a strain. Direct impact may compress muscle against bone and cause a contusion, bleeding and inflammation. |
| Bone tissue | Compression, bending or torsional forces can exceed the bone's strength and produce a fracture. Repeated submaximal loading may also contribute to a stress fracture. |
| Brain tissue | Impact or rapid acceleration, deceleration or rotation can make the brain move within the skull. This may cause a concussion or more severe traumatic brain injury, even without a skull fracture. |
A common misconception is that trauma requires direct contact. Non-contact incidents, such as sudden rotation of the knee or rapid deceleration of the head, can also apply damaging forces.
Exam Technique
If asked to explain how trauma causes injury, do more than name the tissue. Link the force to the mechanism and outcome: for example, “A twisting force stretches a ligament beyond its tolerance, tearing fibres and causing a sprain.” Keep sprain for ligaments, strain for muscles or tendons, and do not assume that concussion always involves loss of consciousness.