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Are You Ready for Some Football?

It’s late summer in Texas, which means football season is almost here. Local teams are starting up their two-a-days, and before you know it, we’ll be deep in the state playoffs. If you have a football player in your life, now’s the time to start thinking about what they can do to ensure they’re in peak physical condition for the season.

There’s no denying that football is a tough sport. A recent study found that boy’s football has the highest injury rates among all high school sports, with girl’s soccer, another popular fall sport, coming in second.

At First Colony Aquatic and Rehabilitation Center & Sports Therapy Center, we don’t want to see any of our local athletes injured, which is why we offer comprehensive sports physical therapy services. From improving athletic performance to post-injury rehabilitation, we work closely with athletes of all ages and abilities to provide personalized care.

With football season just around the corner, we wanted to explore some of the common injuries facing Texas football players–and how we can help them excel on the field.

Understanding the Most Common Football Injuries 

We can divide sports injuries into two broad categories: acute and overuse.

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries are what most people think of when they think of a sports injury, especially in football. These injuries occur suddenly, in the middle of a game or practice, due to a harder-than-usual hit or bad fall. Examples of acute football injuries include the following:

Knee Ligament or Meniscus Tears

The quick cutting motions and heavy tackles required in football put players at risk for acute knee injuries. These injuries typically involve tears in the ligaments (the tissues connecting the leg bones) or meniscus (cartilage acting as the knee’s shock absorber). A severe tear can dramatically impact an athlete’s ability to continue playing, so prevention is essential.

Concussions

Concussions are another sports injury heavily associated with football due to the heavy contact required in the sport. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain jostles inside the skull. They aren’t life-threatening, but they can cause a range of symptoms that require careful rehabilitation.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries are less dramatic than acute injuries, and many athletes will overlook them in an attempt to push through their training. They develop due to repetitive motions, overtraining, faulty biomechanics, or a combination of all three.

Symptoms come on gradually, usually as pain during activity. However, if left unaddressed, the discomfort will worsen, your range of motion will become restricted, and you’ll be more likely to suffer a more severe injury. Here are a few examples:

Patellar Tendinitis

This affects the patellar tendon in the knee, which runs over the kneecap. The tendon becomes inflamed, weakening the tissue and making it more likely to tear while you’re on the field. Fortunately, you can address patellar tendinitis with a good cross-training program to strengthen the leg muscles.

Shin Splints

Shin splints develop when the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around your shin become inflamed. They’re especially likely at the start of the season when athletes dive back into training after taking the summer off. An improved conditioning program can help prevent and manage them.

Preventing and Rehabilitating Football Injuries

At First Colony Aquatic and Rehabilitation Center & Sports Therapy Center, one of our primary goals is to help our local athletes prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. We encourage local athletes (no matter their chosen sport) to visit us for a comprehensive assessment to determine their injury risk. We’ll evaluate your strength, mobility, balance, body mechanics, and more to pinpoint areas of weakness or imbalance. We then use that information to create a personalized training program to address any problem areas.

We also encourage athletes to schedule an appointment if they notice any pain, discomfort, or restricted mobility during training or other physical activity. This is often the first sign of an overuse injury; the earlier you can address it, the better! We’ll work with you to determine the reason for your injury–whether it’s overtraining, improper posture, muscular imbalances, or something else–and create a personalized treatment program.

Plus, injury prevention and addressing overuse injuries offer an additional bonus: both will help improve your overall sports performance. You can also check out our sport-specific training programs if you’re serious about taking things to the next level.

At First Colony Aquatic and Rehabilitation Center & Sports Therapy Center we have therapists certified in FMS – functional movement systems. This is a screening test for athletes, which the therapist can then prescribe corrective exercises to address any deficits discovered.