Are You Ready for Some Football?

The outdoor community pools are closed, and summer is formally over. And at this time of year, football fans are wearing their team jerseys and flying their banners. Whether you’re crazy for your favorite NFL or college team or cheer on your son’s high school team, you’re probably enjoying the new football season. But the sport is often thought to be dangerous. Today Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, is sharing information regarding the most common football injuries he treats. 

Any football fan knows that it’s a physical and sometimes grueling game. For children who spent the summer playing baseball and swimming, returning to football is an adjustment after such a long break. Both skills specific to the sport, and muscle strength, must be regained. Your high schooler football player is more likely to suffer an injury if he isn’t in proper football shape. 

The football players’ speed, proficiency level, experience, and size are all factors in defining the severity and type of injuries that can occur.

Here are the most common football injuries:

• Fractures: One-fourth of all football injuries are fractures, typically a wrist, leg, or finger. How serious the break is dependent on the strength of the bone and the force that fractured it. A fracture takes an average of 6 – 8 weeks to heal if no surgery is needed.

• ACL sprain or tear: The ACL is the major ligament located under the kneecap and connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. About 80 percent of ACL tears occur without any contact being made. Surgery may be required and, the recovery time is six to nine months.

• Strains and Sprains: A strain is an injury to a tendon or muscle. A sprain is an injury to a ligament that has been torn or stretched too far. Ankle sprains in football are most common, but either could be the result of repetitive action.

• Achilles’ rupture or tendonitis: Achilles’ tendonitis is an ongoing inflammation of the largest tendon in the body. If left untreated, the tendon can rupture and require surgery followed by extensive rehab. 

• Turf toe: Caused by hyperextending the big toe or pushing it into the ground, this sprain causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. Numerous weeks of rehab are typically required to strengthen the small muscles in the foot. Custom orthotics can provide additional support. 

Coaching strategies, improvements to athletic gear, and injury prevention are helping to decrease the number of injuries in high school football. Though ankle and foot injuries are common, treatment options are more advanced than ever before.

If your football-playing child experiences an injury this season, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, to schedule a consultation. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 
425-455-0936.