Football is a game enjoyed by many and is played by a team of eleven men/women on each side, with substitute up to five on each side as well.
Football has so many health risk and unexpected harms, due to its high physicality. This is due to its unique nature of high motor intensity and frequent collision and conflict. Experts suggest that athletes stay in shape, maintain flexibility, do aerobic activities, strengthening activities, endurance activities, acclimate to the hot temperatures of late summer, and stay well hydrated in order to perform well during the sports.
The best approach to reducing the risk of injuries in football includes;
- Wearing the proper equipments
- Play when you are in the right condition
- Hydrating yourself before, during and after the game.
- Eating the right diet before the game for adequate energy
- Do little warm up before the main game.
What is the most Common Injury in Football?
Hamstring Strain
The hamstring are a group of of muscles that run from the bottom of the buttocks to the back of the knee. It’s injury occurs when a player over stretches the muscle during sprints, performing a high kick or a fast, stretching movement. It usually include a sudden sharp pain at the back of the thigh.
Knee Ligament Injuries
The ligaments help connect bones, aid movements and hold them in position. There are four ligaments that help connect the thigh bone to the leg bone or shinbone, there are;
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), located in the center of the knee, controls forward movement and rotation of the shinbone
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), also located in the center of the knee, prevents the shin from sliding backwards
Medial collateral ligament (MCL), located on the inside of the knee, gives stability to the inside of the joint
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL), on the outside of the knee, gives stability to the outer knee
Injuries to the knee ligaments can come as a result of forceful sliding with the knee, landing with the knee while falling, changing directions suddenly while running and taking direct blows to the knees. This results in the inability to pivot, turn, or twist the leg, making bending the knee and movement difficult.
Fractured Skull
This is a fracture in the skull, which results from clashing of heads together, accidental clash of head and leg, and hitting the head against the goal post. All these instances are seen while challenging or contesting for the ball. Sometimes injuries to the skull leads to concussions.
Groin Strain
This is one of the most common type of injury an athlete is most prone to, it comes as a result of straining the adductor muscle while kicking, so it’s more common in the athlete’s dominant leg. It can also be caused by turning quickly while running, skating, or jumping.
Proper warm up before plays helps reduce the chances of groin strain because it prepares the muscle for muscle stretches.
Ankle Sprain
This is also another common football injury, it occurs at the joint between the leg and the foot. A football player may neglect and continue training or playing with a mild sprain, but an athlete who plays with a severe injury may further injure the ankle or significantly slow down recovery from the ankle sprain.
Football skills or dribbles that involves circumduction of the foot like the snakebite, have the risk of ankle injury.
Shin Splints
This is pain in front of the lower leg, Doctors refer to shin splints as tibial stress syndrome. Pain is the result of inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around your tibia, or shinbone.
While the condition is not serious, pain can be disabling and lead to serious complications if not properly treated with ice, rest, and stretching. Changes in activity, excessive running, wearing improper or worn-out footwear, or having flat feet may cause shin splints.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone.
Achilles tendinitis most commonly occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. It’s also common in middle-aged people who play sports only on weekends and also frequent jumping and landing while contending for the ball may increase risk of Achilles tendon injury.
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