Football Injuries

Whether you’re trying to understand common football injuries, how to prevent them or how to best recover, our sports medicine experts are here to help.

What is football’s impact on the body?

Football carries the risk of sudden injury as well as long-term consequences. Every play requires athletes to sprint, change direction, block, tackle or withstand contact. As players get fatigued, maintaining proper technique becomes more difficult, increasing the risk of injury.

Repetitive drills, practices and games can also lead to overuse injuries, especially in young athletes whose bones are still growing. During growth spurts, growth plates are often more vulnerable than muscles or tendons and more likely to get injured. 

What are common football injuries?

The most common football injuries among young athletes include:

• Knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries
• Meniscus tears
• Concussions
• Finger, ankle and wrist fractures
• Muscle strains
• Ankle sprains
• AC joint sprains
• Shoulder dislocations
• Stingers

How to avoid injuries in football

While not all football injuries are preventable, young athletes can lower their risk by:

• Wearing appropriate protective equipment
• Learning proper tackling and blocking techniques
• Building strength and endurance
• Warming up before practices and games
• Reporting pain, injuries or concussion symptoms right away
• Following rules and practicing safe play

Since concussions are one of the most common injuries in football, parents, coaches and players should all be aware of the signs of a sports concussion. Young athletes should leave the game and get early evaluation and treatment before returning to play. Specialists in our Concussion Program provide expert concussion care to help young athletes safely return to play.

Why are we experts at caring for kids and young adults who play football?

At the Sports Medicine Center, we provide specialized care built specifically for growing athletes. Our multidisciplinary team includes pediatric sports medicine doctors, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports dietitians and other specialists. These specialists create individualized care plans that include sports injury treatment, rehabilitation, nutrition support and injury prevention tips. Together, we help young football players recover from injury, safely return to the field and perform at their best. 

Get back on the field with expert football injury care