COMMON INJURIES AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
Arguably, the best time of the year is football season. ‘Football Sunday’ has become a part of family traditions and is highly anticipated by many. While football is part of the American DNA, one side of the sport that isn’t talked about enough is the high risk for injuries. For that reason, Dr. S. Saenz breaks down common injuries and how to prevent them in case there’s a football player in your life.
Common Injuries
LIGAMENTOUS INJURIES
The most common injuries seen during football season at Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio are ligament injuries, especially those the knee and ankle.
A big reason why we see these types of injuries is due to the necessary ballistic movements coupled with high velocity and swift changes in direction needed to be good at the sport.
CONCUSSIONS
An injury seen, almost, daily during football season is the incidence of concussion.
Identifying which patients and players are at risk for subsequent brain injury, because of the high recurrence rate of concussions, is key. Dr. Saenz asks important questions when evaluating players like, is this player at a higher risk for long term consequences? Is this patient really the best candidate to continue this sport of theirs? The decisions that follow are always in the best interest of the patients in his care.
Prevention
During the pandemic, we saw the rate of injuries increase because of the inability to prepare players adequately for the approaching season. Combining the inherent high impact of the sport, the necessary ballistic movements, and then adding inadequate preparation to them mix is the perfect formula to develop all types of injuries.
FOLLOWING THE RULES
A simple way of preventing injury is by following the rules of the game like sticking to the guidelines on proper technique and tackling. Coaches and referees can aid in this prevention by following the rules on pulling injured players from the game, as necessary.
PREPAREDNESS AND CONDITIONING
Preparedness and conditioning are major ways that an athlete can help decrease their risk of injuries. Preseason conditioning is something that the vast majority of high school football programs will incorporate into their schedules leading up to their season. If done properly, coaches and physicians can identify the players that are more likely to sustain injury. Then, coaches can focus on preparing those players carefully for the season ahead.
With the right strength and conditioning, players can lower their risk of suffering one of these common injuries.
