With football season around the corner, parents everywhere are experiencing a similar mix of emotions – excitement, worry, thrill, and concern; especially when it comes to the safety of their child on the field. It’s no secret that football is one of the most physical sports around. Injuries in football are common due to the high-impact nature of the sport. A critical component of the game that fans love the most is the physical contact–players need to hit other players to prevent them from scoring touchdowns. From minor sprains to serious trauma, some injuries sustained from sports require medical attention. When that happens, you can count on Surepoint Emergency Center to treat any injury promptly and with expert care!

Common Football Injuries

During the 2023-2024 school year, nearly one million boys participated in eleven-player football, making it the most popular boys’ sport in the state. With such high participation stats, the potential for injury is widespread, particularly for players who don’t have the necessary strength, endurance, or technique to play the game properly. Whether it’s catching a pass or sprinting down the field, football athletes often push their bodies to the limit, which can also lead to other severe injuries. Some common football injuries include:

  • Muscle Strains: Occurs when muscle fibers or tendons are stretched too far or torn, often due to overuse, poor warm-up routines, or overstretching.
  • Sprains or Tears: An injury to a ligament. This occurs when a joint is pushed into an unnatural position, causing it to overstretch or potentially tear. It can affect the ankle, knee, and shoulder areas. 
  • Contusion (Bruise): An injury caused by direct impact, leading to torn blood vessels under the skin, showing discoloration.
  • Lacerations (Cuts): A tear or cut into the skin from blunt force trauma, sometimes due to ineffective equipment or intense collision with other players.
  • Shin Splints: Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, this occurs when the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the tibia become inflamed. Repetitive running on hard surfaces can contribute to this injury.

Football Injuries That Require Immediate Medical Attention & How You Can Prevent Them

While some football injuries are relatively common, some could be career-ending or lead to long-term health complications. These concerns should be what makes injury prevention a top priority for players, coaches, and parents alike. Below are some more serious football injuries that require immediate medical attention:

  • MCL/ACL/meniscus tear
  • Concussions
  • Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Grade 3 Muscle Strains (complete tear of a muscle)
  • Fractures (broken ones)

Fortunately, none of these injuries are inevitable; with the proper technique and preparation before practices and games, the likelihood of these injuries occurring can be significantly reduced. Here are some effective strategies your child can use to help prevent both common and severe football injuries:

  • Strength & Conditioning: Building strength in key muscle groups can help prevent injuries from occurring.
  • Stretching & Flexibility Exercises: A consistent stretch routine can improve flexibility, which can lower the risk of injuries like strains, sprains, and soft tissue injuries. 
  • Wearing Efficient Equipment: Wearing well-fitted, sports-approved gear can reduce the severity of injuries, especially concussions and joint trauma.
  • Practice Proper Technique (tackling, running, etc.): Improper form in tackling and running contributes to a plethora of different injuries.
  • Adequate Rest and Recovery: Overtraining can increase the risk of injury. A critical component of injury prevention lies in proper rest between games and practice.

When Trouble Arises, You Can Count On Surepoint!

Even with the best safety measures in place, football still carries a risk for potential injury, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be prepared when something occurs. If your child experiences a football-related medical emergency, you can count on Surepoint Emergency Center to deliver fast, expert care. At each one of our 24-hour locations, we’re fully equipped to handle a wide range of sports injuries. If your child, or a child you know, is suffering from a football-related injury, don’t hesitate. Visit your nearest Surepoint Emergency Center for quick and accessible care when it matters most.

Surepoint Emergency Center is a modern emergency medical facility open 24/7. As an alternative to the traditional hospital ER experience, we offer convenience and minimal wait time, along with highly-trained emergency medical staff and state-of-the-art equipment.

Our top priority is bringing high-quality emergency care, quickly and easily to your family. We are committed to making patients feel better faster in a comforting and compassionate environment.

Expert convenient care in your neighborhood.

      References:

      10 Common football injuries | Treatment & Prevention. (n.d.). Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology. https://www.apexosn.com/common-football-injuries-and-treatment/

      Common football injuries and recovery Times | Sports injury specialists near you. (n.d.). Orthopedics and Pain Medicine Physician Located in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City, and West Orange, NJ | Garden State Pain & Orthopedics. https://www.gardenstatepain.com/post/common-football-injuries-and-recovery-times-sports-injury-specialists-near-you

      PARTICIPATION IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TOPS EIGHT MILLION FOR FIRST TIME IN 2023-24 | Texas Association of Sports Officials. (n.d.). The Lakes at Centerra. https://taso.org/news/participation-in-high-school-sports-tops-eight-million-for-first-time-in-2023-24/

      Saal, J. A. (1991). Common American Football injuries. Sports Medicine, 12(2), 132–147. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199112020-00005