Football Players - Avoid the Injury Tackle

The many NFL athletes getting injured these days might find brushing up on how to avoid football injuries helpful.  Football is a very popular sport in the United States and like the professionial athletes many young children put on their shoulder pads and helmet to hit the fields for weekend play, some of them dreaming of playing professionally when they get older. But as we are all too aware, a single injury can sideline a player for good.

Common injuries in football players include traumatic injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears in the knees, and concussions. Patellar tendonitis,which is painful inflammation of the tendon under the knee cap, can occur from overuse of the muscles in the area. As in other sports, injury prevention is key to health and good competitive play. 

All athletes regardless of age and sport should have a pre-season physical. In addition to taking and updating the athlete’s medical history, a physical exam is done. The examination includes touching the abdomen, taking height, weight and blood pressure measurements, listening of the heart and lungs, and checking the ears.

In addition to the physical, the following can help to greatly reduce football injuries:

• Practice good warm-up and cool-down routines before and after  practices
• Strength-train and stretch during workouts
• Always hydrate
• Always wear protective equipment and make sure it is properly fitted – mouth guard, pads, helmet
• To protect from concussions, never lead with the helmet; tackle head up
• Speak with a sports medicine professional or athletic trainer if you have any concerns about football injuries or football injury prevention tips.

Courtesy of Chuck Bachi, PT, DPT, OCS, interim director of the Saint Peter’s Sports Medicine Institute, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, in Somerset, NJ. Visit our website to learn more about sports medicine services at Saint Peter’s.