Glamaour Era magazine Glamaour Era Global | Page 6

Football is a fast-paced, aggressive, contact team sport that is very popular among
America’s youth. Football programs exist for players as young as 6 years all the way
through high school, college, and professional.
Injuries are common because of the large number of athletes participating. However,
the risk of injuries can be reduced. The following is information from the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about how to prevent football injuries. Also included is
an overview of common football injuries.
Injury prevention and safety tips
Supervision. Athletes should be supervised and have easy access to drinking water and
have body weights measured before and after practice to gauge water loss.
Equipment. Safety gear should t properly and be well maintained.
Shoes. Football shoes should be appropriate for the surface (turf versus cleats). Laces
should be tied securely.Pants. Football pants should t properly so that the knee pads
cover the knee cap, hip pads cover the hip bones, thetailbone pad covers the tailbone,
and thigh pads cover a good share of the thigh. Pads should not be removed from the
pants.Pads. Shoulder pads should be sized by chest measurement. They must be large
enough to extend ¾ to 1 inch beyond the acromioclavicular joint. Athletes should have
adequate range of motion, and the pads should not ride up into the neck opening when
raising the arms. Helmets. The helmet should be tted so that the eyebrows are 1 to 1½
inches below the helmet’s front rim. The back of the helmet should cover the back of the
head, and the athlete’s ear openings should be in the center of the helmet ear openings.
Jaw pads should be snug against the athlete’s jaw. The chin strap should be centered
over the chin and tightened to prevent movement of the helmet on the head. The helmet
padding and chin strap should be tight enough to prevent any rotation of the helmet
on the head. Face masks should be attached to the helmets. Additional protection can
be provided by a clear Plexiglas shield.
Mouth guards can help prevent oral or facial injuries but not concussions.
Environment. A safe playing eld is level and cleared of debris, equipment, and other
obstacles. Field goal posts should be padded.
Emergency plan. Teams should develop and practice an emergency plan so that team
members know their roles in emergency situations. The plan would include rst aid
and emergency contact information. All members of the team should receive a written
copy each season. Parents also should be familiar with the plan and review it with
their children.
Common injuries
Ankle injuries
Ankle sprains are some of the most common injuries in football. They can prevent
athletes from being able to play. Ankle sprains often happen when an athlete gets
blocked or tackled with the foot rmly in place, causing the ankle to roll in (invert). An
ankle sprain is more likely to happen if an athlete had a previous sprain, especially a
recent one.
Treatment begins with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Athletes should
see a doctor as soon as possible if they cannot walk on the injured ankle or have severe
pain. X-rays may be needed.
Regular icing (20 minutes) helps with pain and swelling. Weight bearing and
exercises to regain range of motion, strength, and balance are key factors to getting
back to sports. Tape and ankle braces can prevent or reduce the frequency of ankle
sprains and enable an athlete to return to activity more quickly.