With the start of a brand new school year, comes youth sports! And fall means football y’all!
The benefits of sport participation far outweigh the risk of injury. Organized, well-structured youth sports and ongoing physical activities can provide many benefits for children and adolescents. Positive experiences that sports and an active lifestyle bring play an important role in a young person’s life. In addition to the physical health benefits, athletes do better academically, have higher self-esteem, and reduced pressure and stress.
That being said, football is the leading cause of disastrous sports injuries among male high school and college athletes. In addition, children as young as five are playing in full contact leagues and wearing pads. Traumatic injuries like concussions, fractures, and sprained or torn ligaments are more common in football since it is a high contact sport. In addition, football players are exposed to high levels of physical stress from strenuous strength training causing muscle injuries and soreness.
Shoulder dislocations and separations are also common in football. A shoulder separation is actually a sprain of the joint near your collarbone. In growing children and young teenagers, a fracture at the growth plate of the end of the clavicle is more common than a shoulder separation. In addition, tears along the tissue of the shoulder socket and unstable shoulders (partial dislocation) can also happen, especially in linemen.
Football is also a major cause of knee injuries among children. Common knee ligament injuries include the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament). These injuries often happen after a tackle. Knee injuries can affect not only ligaments but also the meniscus and cartilage in the joint, which can lead to early arthritis.
- Football injuries that can be treated by chiropractic care include:
- Back Injuries
- Head and Neck Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Hip Injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Ankles Injuries
If your child is injured playing football, a chiropractor may help them recover from their injury. There’s a reason why all 32 teams in the National Football League (NFL) have chiropractors on staff! When it comes to neck and head injuries, a chiropractor is often the first health professional to examine a patient with concussive symptoms. The great news is that a good chiropractor knows how to treat most football injuries, so your young star can get back in the action as soon as possible!
Schedule an Appointment with Our Chiropractor in Edison
A complete chiropractic plan of care helps patients become stronger, relieve stress, manage pain and enjoy the highest possible quality of life. Let our chiropractor in Edison help you achieve your health goals. Call Backsmart Wellness Center today at 732-661-1121.