Football is a high-intensity, high-impact sport. If you play football or are involved with training camps and practices, you know how a football injury can impact performance, sometimes leaving athletes on the sidelines for the entire season. That’s why prevention is so essential, and you may wear an arm, leg, knee, shoulder, or ankle brace to help reduce your risk of injury or provide support during recovery.
Still, it’s good to go into training camp with a good understanding of common football injuries. This information can help you protect and support your body before, during, and after the season.
ACL Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can occur from direct contact with the knee or the force of your body turning while your foot and lower leg are planted. You can sprain, partially tear, or completely tear your ACL, each requiring varying levels of rehabilitation or even surgery.
Recovery can take time. Discuss your plan with a medical professional and only move to a brace with their recommendation. Customized braces are strong, hinged devices that apply pressure where you need it most, so they may be a good choice after a sufficient period of rest, physical therapy, and recovery.
Shoulder Sprains and Dislocations
Shoulder pads can only do so much to protect players. Players can fall on their arm or take a direct hit to the shoulder through the pads. While shoulder sprains are more common than dislocations, the latter tend to become a recurring issue if they happen once. These injuries should be addressed as soon as possible.
Recovery plans are unique to each individual but usually include resting and trying to reduce swelling and inflammation. An arm brace can help you stabilize your shoulder and keep it in place. Over time, you may regain strength and range of motion. Once you’re back on the field, a flexible shoulder brace may benefit your body, helping to keep things aligned while you play.
Ankle Sprains
Running, lateral movements, jumping, and direct hits to the ankle can all lead to ankle injuries, such as fractures and sprains. All of those movements are also very common on a football field. You rely on your ankles for mobility and agility during games or practices. If your ankle goes out, you go out—at least for a little while.
Ankle injuries are fairly common, and there are many options to support recovery or reduce your risk of further discomfort. Depending on the severity of your injury or discomfort, you can use an ankle sleeve, leg brace, or boot to immobilize the injury.
Back Strains
Back strains are common; even college athletes can experience them while playing football. If you play football, you may be at risk of stress fractures or a slipped disk, which can take months to recover. Still, early intervention with mild to moderate back strains can assist in a quick and complete recovery so you can continue playing football.
You can wear a back brace while playing football, but it must be designed specifically for athletic activities. Otherwise, you can use it to optimize recovery and support physical therapy. Do not ignore back pain—get it evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
About DonJoy®
Supporting, maintaining, and helping protect your body is crucial to feeling comfortable on and off the field. With sports braces and recovery tools from DonJoy®, you can discover the best ways to stabilize, apply gentle pressure, and distribute your weight. DonJoy® designs and develops high-quality sports braces often recommended by medical professionals. Having been founded by a professional football player, DonJoy® takes injury prevention and recovery seriously and is passionate about providing the tools to reduce or eliminate the discomfort associated with tears, sprains, and overuse injuries. If you want to continue feeling your physical best on the football field, the pickleball court, or at home, DonJoy® is here to help with a selection of high-quality braces for everyday support, weight distribution, and stabilization.
Learn more about common football injuries and sports braces at https://www.donjoystore.com/
Original Source: https://bit.ly/3WB8a4o
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