Football is one of the most popular sports from all around the world. It has over 3.5 billion fans worldwide, so it is pretty obvious why this sport has become famous among many other activities. It’s exciting, intense and competitive, can be played by anyone at any time, anywhere and has a fascinating history. However, all things in life have some downsides, and this is also what happens with football. As compelling and exciting as football can be, this sport also comes with a fair share of hazards and risks. Football is in the contact sports category, so the chances of getting hurt during a match are pretty high, whether you are a professional or an amateur.
Suppose you are interested in starting to play football or think about enrolling your kids in this sport. In that case, it might be a good idea to know more about the injuries and risks associated with it, so that you will make the best decision for yourself or others. In this article, we will discuss further the risks associated with football and the most common injuries that can happen during a game.
The risks associated with football
Football is a contact sport, which means that there is going to be direct physical interaction between the players. Additionally, football is a fast-paced game, so there is a high risk of suffering an injury due to a collision with another player. However, if we look at the bigger picture, various other sports have a higher degree of danger involved, such as hockey and boxing.
There are several ways in which you can get injured or hit when playing football. For example, the ball itself can be a danger in numerous situations. The ball is hit at a high speed, so receiving one in any part of the body will be extremely painful and can result in severe injuries. For instance, being hit by a ball in the head can cause a concussion, which represents one of the most common injuries in this type of sport.
Furthermore, violent contact with an opponent can have a similar result. When you play football, things can get pretty intense, and in the heat of the moment, players can try to use their knees, elbows and shoulders to win the fight. These little fights might involve hits and bumps and even more serious injuries. If a player was hurt because of another person’s negligence, they might be able to claim compensation for the harm done. Players who are interested in finding out if they are entitled to compensation can take a look at a HowTo Sue Guide to better understand all the steps involved in this process.
Common injuries in football
Concussions
Due to the high-impact nature of football, players are highly susceptible to concussions. However, not all who suffer this type of injury will lose their consciousness. A concussion might also bring other symptoms like dizziness, headache, blurry vision and nausea. In order to stay safe, it is vital to get immediate medical attention after suffering a concussion, even if symptoms are not present at that moment.
Overuse injuries
Overuse injuries are painful and common problems for quite a few football players. Symptoms of overuse injuries include swelling, joint pain, and muscle tenderness. Players should watch out for the symptoms of the overuse injury, as this can lead to overtraining syndrome, which will prevent the body from recovering. Luckily, these types of injuries can be diminished with the help of a warm-up before starting the game to prepare the body for the high level of physical activity that will come. Then, the training sessions can be ended with cool-down stretches to relax the muscles and bring down the heart rate.
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Heat injuries
Heat injuries are also very common issues for football players, mainly during summer. An intense physical activity can end in excessive sweating that will deplete the body of water and salt. One of the most met symptoms of this type of injury is painful muscle cramping. If this is not treated with body cooling and fluid replacement, it can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion. So, football players must be aware of the fact that they need fluid replacement and inform the medical professionals in case of a heat injury.
Ankle injuries
Ankle sprains are one of the most frequent injuries that happen to football players. Although they are not as severe as other types of injuries, they still have major consequences because they can prevent players from getting back to the playing field for an extended period. Ankle sprains usually happen when players twist, turn, change direction suddenly, or step on an uneven surface. When these scenarios happen, players stretch the ligaments that hold the bones together, which is why an ankle sprain occurs.
Knee injuries
Knee injuries are more serious than ankle issues and are extra difficult to treat as well. The knee is a very complex joint, as it contains many components that make it more susceptible to injuries. However, the severity of the wound depends on the part of the knee that was injured. The most known knee injury is a torn meniscus, where the symptoms include stiffness, swelling, and difficulty in straightening the knee. In some cases, all an individual needs to recover is medication, ice and bed rest. But in other cases, players might need surgery, which can be followed by physiotherapy and rehabilitation to regain full mobility.
Hand and wrist injury
You probably didn’t expect hand and wrist injuries to happen to a football player. After all, the most used part by athletes to kick the ball is their foot. Therefore, we all think that hands must be safe. However, that is not always the case, as hand injuries can occur during a fall or when colliding with another player.
Regardless of the type of injury, players should get immediate medical assistance. Although most injuries are minor, others can be severe, and this is why it is always good to pay a visit to the doctor’s office.
