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What Common Football Injuries Mean and Where to Treat Them

 

Discover what common football injuries mean for your immediate future and where to get the best treatment. Few contact sports endanger the human body as much as football. From a minor inconvenience like missing practice to a significant threat...

Few contact sports endanger the human body as much as football. From a minor inconvenience like missing practice to a significant threat, such as a lifelong disability, the possible repercussions of a football injury create an urgency to identify and address potential problems as they arise on the gridiron.

Most Frequent Injuries in Football

Whether you play professional, college, or high school football, experts agree that some injuries appear across all levels. Discover their causes, implications, and treatments to ensure a swift transition from the sidelines to the field.

Concussions

Football involves heavy tackles and full-speed collisions. A concussion may occur when the brain slams against the inside of the cranium after a sudden shift in acceleration, such as when the head hits the ground. Immediate effects may include:

  • Memory loss
  • Loss of balance and physical coordination
  • Reduction in reaction time
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Loss of consciousness

Treatment for traumatic brain injuries may vary depending on the circumstances. The prevailing diagnostic solutions include brain scans, cognitive assessments, and sensory tests to determine the therapeutic course of action.

Shoulder Injuries

Players often come to the Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County with strained rotator cuffs and shoulder dislocations. A shoulder dislocation remains one of the most common injuries in football, often resulting from a forceful knock or sudden fall. Remedies for most shoulder issues include:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Rotator cuff surgery
  • Bankart repair
  • Shoulder impingement surgery
  • Shoulder replacement surgery

Knee Injuries

As well-built athletes, football players experience increased stress on their knees. These critical joints carry the body’s weight, making them more likely to experience a sprain, tear, or dislocation.

Common overuse injuries that plague the knees include dislocation of the kneecap and anterior cruciate ligament tears. Either of these conditions may require X-rays and other tests for a proper diagnosis. Depending on the extent of your injury, healthcare providers may suggest physical therapy or surgery for your knee.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments around the joint tear or pull away from their original positions. Observed symptoms include:

  • Moderate to severe pain
  • Restricted or reduced mobility
  • Inability to place weight on the foot
  • Prominent swelling around the ankles

Ankle problems may require a physical examination or electronic scans before health service professionals can ascertain the degree of damage. Doctors may send you to physical therapy or suggest the operating table, depending on the nature of your injury.

Hand, Wrist, and Elbow Injuries

Football injuries often involve the upper extremities. Common examples of hand and wrist injuries include:

  • Skier’s thumb
  • Dislocated finger
  • Sprained wrist
  • Scaphoid fracture
  • Ligament tear

Any hand, wrist, or elbow injury may involve pain, swelling, bruises, and discomfort. Conventional remedies involve casts or splints to correct out-of-place bones. However, experts in sports medicine may also suggest surgery if the affected body parts are essential to your game.

OCPBC | Your Local Sports Therapists for Football Injuries

Receive specialized medical care for football players at the Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County. We provide personalized sports therapy and other focused treatments to help you avoid or recover from common football injuries. Schedule a consultation with one of our specialists in sports medicine and surgery:

Our three centers in Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and Wellington provide therapeutic and surgical services for injuries sustained during football games and practice. Experience renewed confidence by regaining your full athletic ability with professional care from the team at the Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County. Call 561-967-6500 to book an appointment today!

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