NFL Injury Report

So, what are the top 5 injuries in the NFL?

Hamstring strains, knee injuries, rotator cuff injuries, ankle sprains, and concussions top the list of the most common football injuries.

Hamstring Strains in Football

The hamstrings are three muscles that run along the back of your thigh from the hip down to just below the knee. Hamstring strains are incredibly common in any sport, but especially in football where players sprint at high speeds and stop suddenly, which can excessively lengthen a hamstring. Chronic overuse of the muscles on the back of the thigh can cause micro tears (grade 1) that can eventually lead to a complete muscle tear (grade 3). A complete hamstring muscle tear can be a season-ending injury, and in rare cases may require surgery.

Knee Injuries in Football

There are four main ligaments that make up the knee joint. They include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). ACL tears most often occur with sudden stops and direction changes. You will notice this when the feet stay planted, but the knee continues to turn. Surprisingly, players can frequently walk off of the field with an ACL tear, but surgery is most often required in order to return to play due to significant issues with stability. A Lachman test can be done at the time of injury to assess the integrity of the ACL, but an MRI will confirm the level of tearing.

Meniscal tears frequently occur in conjunction with ACL tears in football. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the bones of the femur and the tibia. There are two menisci per knee, one on the inside of the knee and one on the outside. Due to a limited blood supply, the ability of the meniscus to heal on its own is limited. Depending on the location and severity of the meniscus tear, some players may be able to recuperate without surgery, while others may require surgery.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their corresponding tendons that make up the shoulder joint. They keep the head of the humerus in the socket of the shoulder, and they help you to raise and rotate your arm. Rotator cuff injuries can occur from overuse, such as throwing a football over and over, or from falling on outstretched arms or from any external impact. If the shoulder is forced beyond its natural range of motion, tears can occur. Chronic inflammation can also cause the tendons of the shoulder to be more prone to injury. Some rotator cuff injuries can be rehabilitated through rest, physical therapy and different modalities. Some will require surgery, depending on the severity of the injury and the associated symptoms.

Ankle Sprains

Most people have felt what it feels like to roll their ankles, and I think we can all agree that it is a very unpleasant experience. The most common football ankle sprain is a lateral ankle sprain, where the foot rolls in. During an ankle sprain, the ligaments that attach bones to other bones of the leg and foot can become excessively stretched, which in turn can cause micro-tears or even complete ruptures.

A medial ankle sprain is a less natural movement, where the foot is everted away from the body. A high ankle sprain occurs higher up on the ankle and usually involves the ligaments that connect the tibia to the fibula. The ability for a player to play through an ankle sprain is fully dependent on the severity of the sprain and the pain experienced. Some players can wrap their ankles and get right back out on the field, while others may not be able to walk and could eventually require surgery. An MRI is the key diagnostic test in determining the severity of an ankle sprain.

Concussions

Concussions are a hot topic in the world of football and for good reason. A concussion occurs when a force causes the brain to come in contact with the inside of the skull. Concussions can occur with or without the loss of consciousness and can lead to temporary and/or long-term cognitive effects. The discovery of repeated head injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the brains of former football players has led to more strict rules about concussions in the NFL. Every NFL player diagnosed with a concussion must follow a five-step protocol before they can be cleared to participate. If there was any loss of consciousness, confusion, amnesia, or ataxia (abnormality of balance, gait, coordination), they are considered a no-go to return to the game. Every concussion is unique, and there is no set timeframe for return to participation. A team’s medical staff will help determine when a player is medically safe to return to play.