American football is a contact sport, and injuries are a regular factor in the game. It’s one of the most physical disciplines, and very few athletes will go through their careers without being on the wrong end of a significant issue.
Naturally, NFL players and college-level players will strive to reach peak fitness. That’s the first step towards combating injury, but no amount of preparation can guarantee a season without a spell on the physio’s bench.
Intense Battle
As football has grown in popularity, competition has become more intense. This is big business, and the sport has developed into a multibillion-dollar industry. A huge injection of revenue started to build from 2018, when the United States began to open its doors to online sports betting. Customers could engage with NFL lines and college football odds both digitally and in offline gaming halls at major sporting stadiums.
More money was pumped into the game, and winning became even more critical. Fitness, diet, and other well-being concerns are paramount for individual players, but sustaining one of the most common football injuries will always be a risk.
A Regular Occurrence
The only good news is that the more likely injury issues are unlikely to lead to a long layoff. The stats show that simple ligament strains and tears sideline most players who miss a football game. The most vulnerable areas of the body here are the ankles and knees.
This type of injury commonly occurs due to overstretching. In an extra effort to get the ball or make a tackle, the player may stretch too far, putting additional strain on the ligaments.
Every player is different regarding their recovery time, but on average, a minor strain or tear could lead to an absence of two to three games. Minor cuts and bruising are another regular issue among football players. These problems could lead to the player being withdrawn from the game, but they could return to the roster the following week.
Nobody wants to miss playing time, but far worse injuries can occur on the football field.
Concussions
Helmet technology has advanced significantly recently, but football players remain at risk of head injuries. For those whose job is to go into the tackle, the potential for problems is enhanced, with concussion a relatively common risk.
According to studies, concussions account for around 10% of all injuries sustained on the football field. Modern protocols dictate that the player should immediately be withdrawn ahead of another spell on the sidelines.
Hamstring Strains
Hamstrings are a concern in many different sports. They most commonly occur when a player heads into a sprint from a standing start, and that’s a requirement for virtually everyone on the football field.
The hamstrings are a group of skeletal muscles at the back of the thigh, and a strain can range in severity. Players are usually back on the roster within a few weeks, but some may be out for several months.
Effective treatment is paramount because hamstring strains may lead to other medical issues, such as sciatica. Professional athletes will undoubtedly enjoy the best medical care, but that knock-on effect is often a significant concern among amateur players.
More Severe Issues
The injuries that we have seen so far are the most common. Fortunately, they should only lead to brief absences from the team, and most top athletes will be back playing within a month or so.
However, as it’s such an intense sport, there can be more serious concerns across an American football roster. In some cases, common injuries can put a player out of contention for several weeks, and their season may even end in the opening few games.
Breaks and fractures are included in this more severe category. Shins can be especially vulnerable and can be open to stress fractures, where tiny breaks occur. Common football fractures can also be sustained in the shoulder, wrists, fingers, and even around the eyes.
Dislocations can also be common; once again, the shoulder is particularly at risk. Depending on the severity and complexity of the fracture or dislocation, the time spent away from the field could vary from a few weeks to several months.
Career Concerns
While there are never any guarantees, it may be comforting to know that career-ending injuries in football are infrequent. The worst NFL injuries of all time, such as the horrific leg fracture suffered by Joe Theismann in 1985, will always attract media attention. Still, the chances of succumbing to something of that level are relatively low.
However, there are many more common issues that players can sustain. Hitting peak fitness can help prevent these, but the dangers in such a challenging sport will always remain.