Break! Common Sports Injuries in Football
Injuries are common during football games. Never does a game complete without some poor soul is being carted off the field, knee bent, toe dragging the ground, weight supported by two burly teammates who are hauling the injured player to the bench. Think for a moment about the size of the players, the speed at which play is moving and the physical aspect of the game. It’s easy to understand how and why injuries occur.
So what plagues these guys?
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures
- Torn meniscus
- ACL tears
- Concussions
- Torn cartilage
Sprains and strains are the most common football injuries and receive a lot of attention. Unless it is a very severe sprain, it can be treated quite simply, and rehabilitation can happen. Fractures require more attention because of the possibility of a simple stress fracture becoming far more complex. A few of the recent celebrity NFL players who have had to deal with stress fractures include Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Brett Favre.
Just like many other sports injuries, stress fractures in the ankles and feet cause repetitive action and overuse of feet and lower legs. When overuse tires the muscles, stress transfers directly to the bones and may cause small cracks to develop. These are stress fractures. Failure to stop the high impact and repetitive action that causes the injury, will lead to more serious complications. This is an injury that requires rest in order to heal. It must be stable and pressure is away from the fracture location. Sometimes a walking boot helps, but healing time is still usually necessary. Healing time is usually six to eight weeks and then only return to prior activity with our podiatrist’s approval. Depending on the severity of your stress fracture, Drs. Joel Brook, Arroyo, and McClurkin may need to perform surgery. With surgery, it means inserting plates, screws or pins in order to stabilize the fracture and hold the bones together while healing.
Don’t let the “No pain, no gain,” mantra become your philosophy. Call Dallas Podiatry Works and see Drs. Joel Brook, Arroyo, and McClurkin if you suspect a stress fracture, or any other foot or ankle injury. Do not discount your pain! Call our Dallas office at 972.853.7100 or Plano at (972) 943-3323. Allow them to help you on your first step to recovery!