1. Don't Use Your Head
While helmets will protect your head, they won't prevent all neck injuries. Depending on position, a football player may experience dozens of collisions per game. Any blow to the head will transfer forces to the neck, and the most severe helmet-to-helmet hits can cause serious compressive forces to the neck and lead to permanent damage. Use the protection of shoulder pads to block and tackle opponents.
2. Neck Injuries Can Affect Your Arm
A "stinger" occurs when the neck is pushed forcefully to the side. The force stretches the nerves that run from the spinal cord in the neck through the arm, resulting in a stinging sensation in the neck, shoulder and arm. You may feel pins and needles in the arm, hand or fingers for some time after the injury.
3. Pain Can Develop Days Later
A player may not know how much he injured his neck till days later. As inflammation increases and sets in, pain and stiffness increases. Coaches and parents should monitor any possible neck injury and treat the player with ice, even if the player says the pain isn't that bad. Modification of activity or taking a day off from practice can reduce the risk of further injury.
4. Treat With Ice and Rehab
After any neck injury, put ice on the back of neck. This reduces pain and inflammation. Muscle weakness after a neck injury can lead to chronic pain and dysfunction, so it is important to rehab appropriately. After a few days of icing, you can start with gentle stretching to improve your range of motion. Isometric exercises will increase strength and stability.
5. Give it Time
All athletes want to return to the game as soon as possible after an injury. Starting back too soon after a neck injury, though, can result in reinjury, further damage and more time on the sidelines. Football neck injuries, especially those with arm symptoms, should be evaluated by a medical professional. Get advice on how long to rest and how to return safely to the game.
