The physicality of football causes thousands of injuries each year. Players engage in contact, deliver heavy blows to one another and put stress on their joints through jumping, suddenly changing direction and juking. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that football players are highly susceptible to sprains, head injuries, bone injuries and ligament damages. Proper conditioning, strength training and maintaining legal contact during activity help reduce t these injuries.
Concussions
Football players wear helmets to limit head injuries. The helmet, chinstrap and mouth guard work to reduce concussions. The brain suffers internal bleeding during a concussion, and the player should not return to the game. The player should pass a concussion and cognition test before being able to play again.
Dislocated Joints
Football players are at risk for dislocated joints, specifically shoulder dislocations. The shoulder dislocates when the labrum surrounding the joint tears and limits range of motion as well as causing pain. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that players who are being tackled or land awkwardly on leg can suffer hip joint dislocations. These injuries need arthroscopic surgery to be fixed, as opposed to merely setting the bone back in the joint.
Knee Ligament Damage
Playing football can lead to anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament injuries within the knee. These injuries typically develop during a low block, tackle or awkward fall. ACL and MCL injuries are a result of torsional stress across the knee ligament. This means that if the foot is planted and the knee begins to twist laterally or medially while being exerted with stress, an ACL or MCL injury becomes likely. These injuries require surgery to repair and can cause a player to miss an entire season.
Stingers
A stinger -- also known as a burner -- results from a players head being whipped or pulled in the opposite direction in which their body is traveling or by their shoulder being quickly pushed down and away from their neck. The player feels a sudden numbness or tingling from their neck down to their hand on the affected side. The NCAA states that stingers caused from football are generally non-severe and that players can usually play that day or within a week once pain subsides and sensation is recovered.
Broken Bones
Broken bones become a risk in football due to the intense contact and chances of awkward body movements while supporting a tackler or falling body. These injuries require the football player to miss six weeks or more, as the bone must heal.
References
- University of Buffalo: Physicians Brace for Football Injuries
- NCAA: "Burners" Brachial Plexus Injuries
- "Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, 4th edition"; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2006
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