Sports Injury Prevention

5 Most Common Football Injuries & Their Treatment

Football is the world's most popular sport. The excitement it brings is unmatchable!  But it can also cause a lot of injuries which are usually caused by a collision on the field or an unsuccessful landing. These injuries generally affect lower body areas such as the groin, pelvic area, hip, thigh, knee, calf, foot, and ankle.   

Research shows that injuries occur more often during a game than at practice, and the older the player, the higher the injury risk. The study also observed that muscle and tendon injuries were more common among males, whereas joints and ligament injuries were more common among females.

Another study found that males suffered more hamstring strains and hip/groin injuries and females suffered more quadriceps strains and severe knee and ankle ligament injuries.

Even though football has a high rate of injury,  most of these injuries are not particularly severe. But the more you know, the better you will be able to prevent and treat any injuries that may happen.

1. Hamstring Strain 

The muscle located on the back of the thigh is called the hamstring. A  strain or muscle pull in this area happens with sudden and powerful movements like jumping, sprinting, and lunging. Football generally occurs due to the frequent start and stop of the motion of the legs.

A hamstring injury has three grades:

• Grade 1 - A mild strain that causes pain and tenderness. As painful as it may become to move the leg,  muscle strength is not affected much.
• Grade 2 - Partial tears, increased pain, and tenderness accompanied by swelling and bruising. There is some loss of strength at this level.
• Grade 3 - Severe tears with a lot of pain, tenderness, swelling, and bruising. An audible popping sound and sensation may happen at the time of injury. This type of strain is severe, and treatment requires no weight to be placed on the leg for some time in order for the hamstring to heal.

2. Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain happens when the ankle gets twisted inwards, damaging the soft tissue. There may also be damage to the ligaments that hold the ankle bones together, which occurs when the ligaments experience excessive force.

This injury causes tissues to bleed and produces swelling and pain in the ankle or by putting weight on the affected foot. Just like a hamstring injury, ankle sprains also have three grades:

• Grade 1 - damage to the fibers of the ligament.
• Grade 2 - a partial tear of the ligament.
• Grade 3 - complete rupture of the ligament. 

3. Knee Cartilage Tear

A knee cartilage tear, or a torn meniscus, is one of the most common knee injuries. It is caused by any activity that forcefully twists or rotates your knee, especially when you put full weight on the affected knee.

A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee. It may be difficult to extend or straighten it. Rest, ice, and medication help to relieve the pain and speed up recovery. In severe cases, the tear may require surgery. 

4. Hernia

A hernia is a common football injury because the pelvic area endures much stress running, kicking, and turning. Inguinal hernia and sports hernia (aka Gilmore's Groin) are the common types of football injuries.

Playing with a hernia can cause debilitating pain and soreness in the groin. Any movement, like getting out of bed or a car, can become strenuous. The effects may not occur initially and may progress over time.

5. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)Injury

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a sturdy band of tissues that connects the thigh bone to the shinbone. An ACL injury occurs when this band gets torn or sprained. ACL injuries mostly occur in sports that involve sudden changes in direction while running, sudden stops, jumping, and landing.

When this injury occurs, you may hear a popping sound coming from your knee. Some symptoms of an ACL injury are severe pain, swelling, and loss of motion in the knee until it heals. Proper rest and rehab exercises may help regain strength and stability. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

Your doctor may prescribe a knee brace, calf and shin sleeve, ankle support and brace, or hamstring compression sleeve. 

Best Products For Football Players

HPFY carries quality products to help you heal from the above-mentioned injuries. Some of our best-sellers:

Related Articles