Chest injuries, what the sports physical therapist should know.

Chest injuries in contact and collision sports are relatively rare, particularly those that are life threatening. However, as with every sports related injury, one must initially consider life threatening situations that may occur as a result of collision with another player, a stationary object, or being struck with some type of object (missile). In other words, as is the case in all acute sports injury assessment, the mechanism of injury must be considered when evaluating the injured athlete on the field as well as on the sidelines. The Sports Physical Therapist (PT) must look for several initial life threatening conditions as well as be aware of and monitor for the development of these symptoms during the subsequent evaluation of the athlete. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to review the presentation and management of several emergent conditions associated with injuries to the chest and thorax.