SALTAPS is a mnumonic for a sports medicine regime to be invoked when a player is injured, that seems to be targetted at coaches more than the average in the field first responder. It stands for :
SALTAPS is an acronym used in sports medicine to assess and manage injuries, particularly in an athletic context. It stands for Stop, Ask, Look, Touch, Active movement, Passive movement, and Strength testing. This systematic approach helps practitioners evaluate the severity of an injury, determine the appropriate treatment, and decide whether an athlete can safely return to play. It emphasizes a thorough examination to ensure effective management and recovery.
Saltaps, or saltation taps, are a type of sediment transport mechanism in which particles move in a series of short, intermittent jumps or hops along the ground, typically in response to wind or water flow. After the saltap process, sediment is often deposited in new locations, contributing to the formation of landforms such as dunes or riverbanks. This movement can also aid in the redistribution of nutrients and organic matter within ecosystems, influencing soil composition and health.
S: Stop play A: Ask what happened L: Look at the affected area/injury T: Touch the affected area A: Active Movement P: Passive movemnet e.g stretching S: Stand up and play on
Stop PlayAsk the player -- evaluate for pain and for orientation/confusionLook -- at the limb and evaluate the appearance of the injuryTouch -- the injury if the player will allow this.Active Movement -- can the player move the limb?Passive Movement -- if you move the limb does it hurt? Is there sufficient range of motion?Stand Up -- can the player really play, or are they denying the extent of the injury.
Saltaps should be used within the first 24-48 hours to relieve the pain of the injury, to relieve swelling, and to prevent further damage to the affected area.Stopplay:Clear the space around the player whilst examining them, DON’T TOUCH THE INJURED PLAYER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.Ask:Ask the injured players questions as to where the pain is/type of pain, if they’re feeling numbness/pin and needles, or dizziness and if they’ve had a previous experienced any form of injury in that place.Look:Look for visibly affected areas: swelling, bleeding, lacerations, compare to the other side, colour of the injured person’s face and consciousness/speech.Touch:Make sure they’re not overheating, so check for their temperature, firmly but gently put pressure on the area leading up to the injury to check for points of tenderness, lumps/depressions,ActiveMovement:Check all directions of movement, if no pain check resisted movement.PassiveMovement:Tests performed by professionals can gently over pressure range of movement.Skill: Check movement, tests are specific to the area that is injured.Don’t over-ice, use a barrier between you and the ice, don’t keep it on for more than 15-20 minutes , it tells the white blood cells to move to the area to overheat it.If a player fails any stage, seek referral.:-)ciara.