Grace WellsWith school starting back up, so are the school sports programs. Every sport comes with both benefits and risks. Today we’ll cover some of the most common injuries people get from playing football and how you can prevent them. From back to head injuries, wearing the right gear and practicing football safety can prevent bodily damage.
Most Common Football Injuries
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 920,000 injuries are treated at clinics and emergency rooms as a result of playing football. Most of the injuries treated could have been avoided or prevented. The most common injuries pertain to back and knee pain due to overuse.
Overtraining syndrome develops in these areas when athletes train beyond their bodies ability to easily recover. Knee problems can be decreased by strengthening of the quadriceps. Concussions are the direct result of a traumatic impact. Although impact and football cannot be avoided altogether, watching for signs and symptoms can greatly reduce the longterm effects.
Common concussion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of balance, numbness, blurry vision, and difficulty concentrating. Wearing properly fitted helmets that are secured correctly with the safety padding in good condition can help prevent concussions. In addition, practicing safe tackling techniques can also help.
Traumatic injuries, especially injuries to the ACL/PCL and to the cartilage of the knee (menisci) are also common in football and can cause permanent damage. Other areas that are prone to traumatic injuries include the shoulders and ankles. Proper gear, stretching, and training should all be used to prevent these injuries.
Other Injuries and Prevention
Heat-related issues are commonplace in football. With long games and practices wearing protective gear and being in the heat, it is extremely important that athletes stay hydrated. If a player experiences cramping or other signs of heat-exhaustion they should immediately cool their body temperature and address the symptoms with fluids. Ignoring the signs of heat or heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke or death.
Both proper warm-ups and cool-down routines should always be done to avoid football injuries. Every player should have pre-season health evaluations and physicals to ensure their bodies are up to the challenge of football.
Erin Long
