The pre-season has the highest injury rate in the football world.
No matter what level you’re playing at, there’s always a chance of getting injured. However, knowing the most common injuries in football can help you avoid them or know what to do when you’re facing one.
Keep reading to learn more about the most common injuries football players can get.
Common Injuries in Football
Here are five of the most common injuries seen in football players.
1. Knee Ligament Injuries
There are four ligaments that allow the knee to work:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
Damage to any one of these will cause knee pain and prevent the knee from bending properly. These are often injured by the side-to-side movement made by football players.
2. Hamstring Strains
The hamstring runs from the back of the knee to the base of the buttocks. When strained, they cause severe pain and can make walking or running impossible. These are often caused because of the hard work these muscles have to do.
3. Ankle Sprain
If a football player lands incorrectly on his or her ankle, this can cause a sprain. Although a minor sprain may not require any medical attention, a severe sprain definitely will.
4. Shin Splints
Shin splints are characterized by intense pain in the front of the lower legs. The pain comes from swelling in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in this area.
5. Concussions
Concussions are by far the most common sports injury and one of the most dangerous. They occur when there is trauma to the head is severe enough that the brain bumps into the skull.
How to Avoid Injuries
Fortunately, there are some ways to help you avoid injuries while playing football. Most of these are easy to do so there’s no excuse not to do them.
Wear Protective Gear
Helmets and padding exist for a reason. In particular, helmets can help prevent concussions because they absorb the impact of blows to the head. Your other protective gear will help you avoid numerous soft-tissue injuries.
Warm Up and Cool Down
We can’t stress enough how important stretching is to your workout routine. You should spend at least 30 minutes warming up before practice or a game, and another hour cooling down and stretching your muscles afterward.
Stretching is what will help prevent problems with shin splints, hamstring injuries, and knee ligament injuries.
Stay Hydrated
It may sound strange, but staying hydrated while playing football will help you avoid injuries. When you’re drinking enough water, you can avoid a brain fog that may keep you from reacting as quickly as necessary and you’ll stay cooler.
In Need of Urgent Care?
Now you know the five most common injuries in football and how to avoid them. As you can see, there are a few simple things you can do to lower the chances of getting injured.
If you are injured while playing football, visit us here at State Urgent Care. You can call ahead for an appointment if it’s less severe or walk-in to be seen at any time between 8 am and 7 pm.