Anyone who has ever watched or played football knows that it is a very physical sport. Constant running jumping and tackling are required in almost every play during the game. The amount of strain football players put on their bodies can add up over time causing a wide array of injuries on and off the field. It comes as no surprise that even with all of the additional padding and protection football players have; football is ranked #2 as the sport with the most injuries per year. This article will highlight some of the most common injuries in football and how some people are finding ways to reduce harm to players.
Knee Ligaments
Knee injuries for football players could be career-ending injuries. Many football players suffer from knee ligament injuries prohibiting them from playing the sport again. The ligaments in your knee consist of your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). These knee ligaments are all located in different parts of your knee and serve its own purpose for almost any movement within the knee. One of the most common injuries in sports and football is an ACL tear. The ACL is located in the center of the knee and controls the forward movement of the knee and the shinbone.
Concussion
Football players are the most susceptible to concussions than any other player of any other sport. A concussion is a traumatic impact to the brain that can cause altered mental states for a short or long period. Signs of a concussion can include dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, numbness, blurry vision, and short-term memory loss. Even with protective helmets on football players, athletes can have traumatic impacts on their brain mainly through tackles. Colliding with other athletes or heavy impacts on to the ground can give a player a concussion in some level of severity.
Wrist Injuries
Another common injury among football players are wrist injuries. Some players on the team are continually throwing and catching the ball and consistently using their hands and wrists to stabilize themselves in order to do so. Quick wrist movements for throwing and catching can cause strain on a player’s wrist. A good way to prevent these kinds of injuries is to wear a wrist brace that helps stabilize the wrist and alleviate pressure when executing fast movements.