What to Do When You’re Injured on the Football Field

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Football injuries are an important concern for professional and college athletes, potentially impacting the rest of their careers. They can also affect the goals of senior high school athletes who have hopes of continuing their athletic journey with a scholarship.

If you are injured on the football field, it’s important to do everything you can to recover safely and swiftly while also taking steps to prevent further injury. Whether you’ve created a rehabilitation plan with your athletic trainer or you’re looking for bracing recommendations, here’s everything you need to know about recovering from football injuries.

 Common Football Injuries

Before addressing the steps to follow after an injury on the field, you can brush up on some common football injuries. Recognizing what injuries could physically impact your body and your ability to move can help you get an idea of what immediate steps to take when you sustain an injury on the field.

Ankle Brace

Common football injuries include ACL and MCL tears, shoulder injuries, sprained ankles, wrist sprains, and back strains. While all these injuries occur in different parts of the body, it’s best to have assistance getting off the field if you’re in pain.

 Wait for the Athletic Trainer

The first thing to do when you experience an injury on the football field is wait for the athletic trainers to reach you on the field and identify where you are injured. Depending on where the injury is, your pain level, and the likelihood of a more serious injury, the athletic trainer may need more help removing you from the field.

Since the athletic trainer has the proper skills to handle these situations, follow their advice at the moment. They can also help with the next steps, including emergency first aid or icing the injury. Athletic trainers can also direct you to a medical specialist for particular injuries and recommend sports bracing options, especially if you experienced a minor sprain requiring mild support from an ankle or arm brace.

Ankle Brace


Listen to Your Body

As a football player, taking care of your body and preventing injury—especially to your joints—is essential for maintaining optimal performance on the field. Listen to your body. If you’re experiencing pain, come out of the game to be assessed by the athletic training staff. Sometimes, this can be a hard choice to make, but being honest about how you feel can help you find the support you need to get back out there quicker.

 See a Sports Medicine Specialist

Medical experts have different specializations, and some have expertise in sports medicine. These experts know how to address sports-related injuries for safe recovery. They can also help answer rehabilitation-related questions, including the length of time you’ll need to stay off the field and how to support future performance. By having conversations with your athletic trainer and a sports medicine specialist, you can get targeted support where you need it most with reliable bracing options, like a leg or ankle brace, depending on your injury.

Ankle Brace


Create a Recovery Plan with a Medical Professional

Recovery plans look incredibly different from injury (and one athlete) to another. Your position, the way you move on the field, your muscle tone, and any physical impact from contact are determining factors in your recovery plan. The kind of sports brace and other tools you plan to use going forward also play a role in your rehabilitation from injury. Consult with a medical professional to develop a plan that’s tailored to your situation.

 Wear a Medically Recommended Sports Brace

Different stages of recovery and rehabilitation require different braces. For example, at the start of the recovery process, you may wear a more rigid leg brace that prevents movement of the joints entirely, helping stabilize and immobilize that joint for proper realignment as you heal.

Once you make progress, you might move to a more flexible leg brace or adjustable wrap as you continue working through your rehab plan. Finally, you can move to an option offering mild support and compression to wear during games, practices, and training, like a compression sleeve.

Injuries on the football field are common. If you don’t want them to interfere with your long-term performance, you can enjoy a swift and safe recovery with the right support. Get rest, take advice from trusted medical professionals, and don’t try to work your way back to in-game action too quickly. When you take your time to recover fully, your team can rely on you to make an impact once you do get back on the field.

 About DonJoy®

 DonJoy® designs and develops high-quality sports braces and rehabilitation products for professional athletes, athletic trainers working in college athletics, and anyone who needs support during their favorite active hobbies. This premium sports bracing brand is passionate about providing you with the tools and resources you need to stay at the top of your game. From their knee compression sleeves and arm braces to their Injury Information Guide, DonJoy® offers support for every aspect of injury prevention and recovery. Best of all, DonJoy® was founded by a professional football player, so they know what it takes to help elite athletes optimize their performance, overcome injuries, and push themselves toward the finish line to accomplish every goal they set.

 Learn more about injury prevention and recovery with DonJoy® at
https://www.donjoystore.com/

Location: 5919 Sea Otter Pl Ste 200, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA

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