GCSE - Answers to Frequently asked Exam Revision Questions Part 7

What are Golf and Tennis Elbow?

Answer: "Tennis elbow" and "Golf elbow" are two slightly different injuries. Let's look at the characteristics of them both:

Tennis Elbow results in pain on the OUTSIDE of elbow.

Causes and symptoms are the onset of pain, on the outside (lateral) of the elbow and is usually gradual with tenderness felt on or below the joint's bony prominence. Movements such as lifting and gripping can be painful.

Golfer's Elbow results in pain on the INSIDE of the elbow.

The pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial) of the elbow, on or around the bony prominence. The causes are actually similar to tennis elbow.

Here is a list of the SYMPTOMS common to both Tennis and Golf Elbow.

Pain caused by lifting or bending the arm or grasping objects.
Difficulty in extending the forearm fully (because of inflamed tendons, muscles and ligaments).
Pain that often lasts for 6 to 12 weeks. Discomfort can continue for as little as 3 weeks or as long as several years.
Recurring pain on the outside of the upper forearm, just below the bend of the elbow. Occasionally, pain moves down the arm toward the wrist.

Tendon injuries like this are particularly hard to heal as they do not receive the same amount of oxygen and blood that muscles do. In some cases, the inflammation can last for years although if treated properly, usually subsides in 6 to 12 weeks.

(more info on Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow on sportsinjuryclinic.net)

What is a motor skill? an example of a motor skill is?

Answer: A motor skill is a task with a specific goal to achieve that requires voluntary body/limb movements. It is usually associated with minimising effort and maximising certainty. That is, you could throw a basketball at the basket and it may go in. However, this is not necessarily a motor skill as it could have been a fluke. If you could perform the same skill again and again with similar technique, it would be regarded as a learned motor skill.

What is the part of the bone called which allows the bone to grow? Is
it osteosite?

Answer: The process of bone growth is called "Ossification". Essentially, cartilage makes up virtually the whole of the skeleton when we are first born. As we grow, this cartilage is gradually replaced by bone. In long bones, the cartilage in the shaft of the bone is the first area to be converted, followed by the cartilage in the heads (epiphysis and diaphysis).

What do athletes do in out of season training? For example what
exercises and why. Many thanks.

Answer: Because of the principles of "individual needs" and the fact that there are so many athletic events requiring very different approaches, it would be impossible to have one rule on out of season training. However, here are some basic principles you can apply:

The idea behind out of season training is to prepare the performer or athlete for the in-season. This may mean a programme of recovery, then some maintenance work on fitness, building up to greater levels of fitness and then peaking with warm up competitions and very specific work as you move into the in-season.

A year long programme for an athlete may look something like this:

Phase 1 = October / January inclusive - General development of strength, mobility, endurance and basic technique

Phase 2 = February / March inclusive - Development of specific fitness and advanced technical skills

Phase 3 = April / May - Competition experience (low level or warm up events) - evaluation of technique

Phase 4 = June - Adjustment of technique, competition season and preparation for peaking in August

Phase 5 = July / August - Competition experience - peak performance.

Phase 6 - September - Active recovery - planning preparation for next season

Remember that this is only an example. A soccer programme would look quite different and would need to be worked out based on the individual athlete.