Football is one of the most popular sports in America, and it has been for quite some time. However, the sport poses a natural risk for participants. This is especially concerning when one considers that very young children are now taking part in full-contact football. Luckily, chiropractic care can serve as an excellent treatment option for those who have suffered from an injury due to football.
Common Football Injuries
Truthfully, one could suffer from just about any injury imaginable during a football game or practice.
That being said, the following list contains some of the most common injuries from which football players can suffer.
- Concussions. Concussions in football players have been the subject of many documentaries, films, and books over the past few decades. In particular, doctors and researchers have been alarmed about a particular side effect of frequent concussions: CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). CTE can cause irreversible brain changes that can make football players suffer from agitation, moodiness, personality changes, and tons of other neurological symptoms. Fear of CTE and other concussion-related symptoms have been the main driver for the call to end “pee-wee” leagues and other football clubs designed for young children.
- Broken Bones. As far as injuries go, most cases of broken bones are fairly mild. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t painful. Furthermore, they can require months of splinting, or they may even have to be put in a cast for a while. Some broken bones may even necessitate the use of an internal or external fixator. These are metal support rods that are screwed into the broken bone in order to keep it stable. Depending on the extent of the injury, these fixators may have to remain in place forever.
- Muscle Strains. Muscle strains can vary in severity. Most clinicians will grade a sprain on a I-III scale. A grade one strain is a very minor injury that will usually heal on its own, given proper rest. A grade two strain involves slightly more damage to the tissue, but these will often heal completely as well. Grade three strains are complete ruptures of muscle or tendon tissue. These injuries often require surgery in order to reattach the muscle to its proper location.
- Ligament Sprains. Much like muscle strains, ligament sprains are usually graded on a I-III scale. These injuries can be tricky, and may take a very long time to heal. A common example of an injury that leads to a sprained ligament is rolling one’s ankle or falling on one’s wrist.
- Spinal Cord Injuries. Any injury to the nervous system can be devastating. If a football player suffers a spinal cord injury, they may not be able to step on the field for a very long time, if ever again. There have been many famous examples of football players suffering from these injuries and being forced to retire from the sport they love.
Now that we’ve reviewed some of the common injuries in football, let’s examine how chiropractic care can help these athletes recover.
Chiropractic Care for Football Players
By keeping the spine in optimal alignment, football players can more easily recover from many of the common injuries seen in the sport. Chiropractors perform targeted spinal manipulations that can reduce subluxations, decrease pain, improve healing, and provide many other benefits.
Depending on the specific injury you’re suffering from, your chiropractor may use different techniques to help you get better. But whatever treatment methods they use, you can begin to heal from your injury, slowly but surely.
If you’re a football player and you’re sick of suffering from nagging, irritating injuries, come see your Plano, TX chiropractors at Keystone Chiropractic. Book your appointment now!
