Don’t Live in Fear of Football Injuries: How to Prevent Common Problems
Any American can tell you that football is a rough sport. There’s a reason the players wear all that padding. But no matter how much equipment you have on, there is always a chance of traumatic injury—especially to ligaments, tendons, bones, and cartilage. And especially when you’re not preparing enough to prevent the injury. Just this season, there have been over 30 NFL players who sat out of games due to injuries, and the vast majority of those injuries could have been prevented.
While Dr. Murrell is here to help you recover from any injuries, everyone knows that once you are injured it will be a long road to recovery. Don’t let a bad knee keep you out of your favorite game. Read up here about common football injuries and how to prevent them.
One Among Many: the Most Common Football Injuries
The Knee
The most common injuries in football are those to the knee, such as a torn meniscus. Often, knee injuries occur when you’re trying to move a leg and place weight on it at the same time. If your joint is pushed, pulled, or twisted too far in any direction, this can also cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, all of these examples happen far too often in football.
If you hurt your knee, especially if it is a meniscal tear, it can be very difficult to heal. Lots of rest, ice, and pain medication is in store—and that’s if it’s a minor injury. For a more serious problem, you will most likely need surgery.
The Shoulder
Shoulder and arm injuries are not as common in football in comparison with lower-body injuries, but injured shoulders and torn rotator cuffs do occur, especially in quarterbacks and during tackles.
Prevention is Better Than a Cure
As previously mentioned, prevention is always the better way. While the only way to truly prevent sports injuries is to not play, there are some precautions you can take while still being in the game. Make sure you have a good warm-up before every game and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Always wear the proper equipment and be aware of where, when, and how each part of your body is moving.
Perhaps one of the most important ways to prevent injuries is to consult with an orthopedic or sports medicine professional, even before you get injured.