The 10 Most Common Football Injuries

Football is one of the most popular sports in the US today and the kicking off the NFL season in September will likely trigger an increased interest in this highly-captivating and sometimes dangerous sport.

Let’s look at 10 common football injuries that both professional players and weekend warriors need to watch out for:

1. Concussions: Those who play football are at a high risk for developing concussions. They often occur during a tackle which causes the head to snap back or strike the ground.
2. Jumper’s Knee: This condition is also known as patellar tendonitis and is characterized by pain in the tendon that connects your kneecap to your shinbone. It is generally caused due to repetitive strain.
3. Foot Fractures: The long slender bones in your midfoot region which are called metatarsals are prone to fracture due to a direct blow or excessive rotation of the foot.
4. Shin splints: This condition is also known as tibial stress syndrome. Pain is experienced in your shins as a result of the inflammation of muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the shinbone.
5. Achilles Tendonitis: Increased stress on the large tendon at the back of your heel while sprinting and running can cause acute pain and can prevent an athlete from continuing to play.
6. Ankle Sprains: Injury to the ankle may occur due to abrupt twisting of the ankle while running. You may be able to continue to play with a mild ankle sprain, but you run to risk of making the condition worse.
7. Rotator cuff injuries: This is a shoulder injury that may occur when being tackled or with repetitive catching and throwing of the football. Tears in the rotator cuff can take a long time to heal and increase the risk of shoulder dislocation.
8. Knee ACL injury: The anterior cruciate ligament is an important stabilizing ligament in the knee. It can be injured due to a direct blow to the knee or while make sudden changes in direction on the field.
9. Hamstring injury: This is an injury in the muscles that run along the back of your thighs. It is often caused when performing explosive movements such as sprinting or jumping.
10. Quadriceps Strains: A lineman relies on quadriceps contraction to thrust him from a squatting position to the upright position and into the opposing player. This sudden motion can overpower the quadriceps resulting in a pulled or torn thigh muscle.

Tips to Avoid Football Injuries:

• Wear the right gear including helmets, pads, athletic support, and well-fitting shoes
• Warm up thoroughly before a game
• Cool down with slow stretches to reduce muscle soreness after a game
• Drink plenty of water before, after, and during a match
• Listen to your body and stop playing if you feel tired or experience any pain. You are more likely to get injured when you overexert yourself.

The physicians at Carrell Clinic are committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care in Frisco & Dallas, Texas. Book an appointment with us today.