Collisions cause injuries. It's an inevitable byproduct in a contact sport like football. On the plus side, advances in technology have made equipment safer than ever. Awareness is also at an all-time high due to a spate of concussions, but the threat of injury is always going to be present in football.
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Head to Toe
Concussions are common in high school football, and they can be dangerous. Football helmets have better padding now than in decades past, but when players make helmet-to helmet contact, there is risk of a concussion. Falling and hitting your helmet on the ground can also create concussions. Headaches, dizziness and nausea are common symptoms of concussions. You should see a doctor immediately if any of the symptoms are present during or after a football game.
Wounded Knee
Football players wear pads to protect the knees, and they do help prevent injuries to a vulnerable area of the body. Knee injuries are still common, especially for running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks because they are often tackled in the knee area. According to Dr. Marc Fineberg, chief of sports medicine at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, spraining the medial collateral ligament is the most common knee injury in football. A sprained MCL heals on its own. Tearing the anterior cruciate ligament is much more serious and requires surgery. Wearing knee pads and flexible braces help reduce risk of injury.
Achy Ankles
Ankles are taped up in football, and pads or braces can be worn to help prevent fractures and sprains. Considering that the ankles are often targeted when making tackles, injuries are still common. According to Dr. Ross Hauser, an Oak Park, Illinois, specialist, ankle injuries account for 10 to 15 percent of lost playing time in football. Ankle injuries are graded by severity. A grade 1 sprain occurs when the ligament is stretched by not severely damaged. A grade 2 sprain involves a slight tear of the ankle ligament. A grade 3 sprain -- the most serious -- is a complete tear that requires immediate surgery.
Sore Shoulders
Shoulder pads make even the smallest football players look like battering rams, and the bulky piece of equipment helps prevent injury. Still, there are times when you take a direct hit to the shoulder or land on the field at an awkward angle. According to a report in the "Journal of Athletic Training", shoulder injuries occur in football more than any other high school sport. Sprains are the most common injury in football, but you can also run the risk of dislocating or fracturing the shoulder.
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