2 min read • September 27, 2022
Posted in
By Reuben Varghese
According to the 2018 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 300,000 children between the ages 5-14 were treated in the Emergency Room for football related injuries. Though there has been a shift to including more padding in football equipment and running non-contact practices, the risk for many commo football injuries still remains high as the competitiveness of the sport has increased and led to these common football injuries.
Taking part in that extra play at the end of practice can put further stress on your bones, muscles and joints. Though it may not cause immediate injury, it can lead to overuse injuries such as ankle sprains, fractures, knee injuries, and shoulder injuries. If you look at football players that have torn their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an integral tissue in your knee joint, it can be caused by constant wear and tear on your knee. It is important to take proper rest and give your body time to heal before putting yourself at risk for a sports injury. Offensive and defensive linemen often wear knee braces to prevent knee injuries.
If you have experienced symptoms such as headaches, memory loss, or coordination issues, you may have suffered from a concussion. This type of injury is caused by the sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head through head contact. It can lead to brain bleeds which will need immediate attention. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I followed 459 football athletes' seasons and found that students sustained a median of 426 impacts over an entire football season. Years of these impacts can lead to major neurological deficits.
Prolonged exposure or intense physical activity at high temperatures can increase your core body temperature affecting your ability to get proper oxygen and ions throughout your body. Heat injury includes heat stroke, cramps, and muscle death. If you are experiencing excessive sweating, loss of consciousness, confusion and fever, it is important to hydrate and cool your body temperature quickly.
Football players sustain more traumatic injuries than we think. These include (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, herniated discs, torn Achilles. Further, major spinal and brain injuries have been reported from football players following a hard hit. These injuries may take surgeries to fix and will most likely take months to recover preventing a football player from playing.
Preparation for physical activity before and after is important. Adequately stretching, engaging in low intensity aerobic exercises can prepare your body for a football game. After games, getting the proper electrolytes and submerging your body in an ice bath to reset your body's blood flow can help improve the recovery allowing you to prevent common football injuries.
Drinking water is extremely important in order to create ATP (aka energy) and control body temperature. Your body needs sufficient energy to make that tackle or spint so staying hydrated can prevent any sport related injuries.
Many injuries are caused due to a sudden increase in physical activity that your body is not prepared for. Staying in shape by weight lifting, running, stretching can all keep your body fresh for the upcoming season. Start light initially and slowly ramp up to high intensity workouts until your season begins.
Wearing protective equipment such as shoulder/knee pads and a helmet. Without it, you and your opponents will be at risk and not doing everything for football injury prevention.
Especially for offensive or defensive lineman, though it is tempting to drop your head when tackling the person in front of you, this can lead to concussions and brain injuries. Keep your head up, don’t arch your back, and aim for the inside of the hip. Follow-through as well.
All players should undergo a wellness physical to determine if you are fit to play and determine if you are at risk for overuse injuries. Your doctor will do simple tests to make sure you do not have any underlying issues that may prevent you from playing at your best.
If you need more specific help with sports injuries, visiting a sports medicine doctor may be beneficial as they only deal with complex sports related injuries. They can help you create a routine to prevent further injuries and get back to being healthy.
If we look at NFL football players such as Jerry Rice and Jim Marshall, beyond their talent, it was their dedication to proper health management that allowed them to keep their body performing at such a high level for years despite common injuries. Football injury prevention depends on you making sure to eat and drink properly. Not overworking yourself but taking the time to recover is just as important to be successful.
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