What to Expect Toward the End of Football Season

By December, football fans and players are looking forward to high school state championships, college bowl games and the last stretch of the professional season. It goes by quickly, especially with the rush of holiday events and other seasonal festivities going on. Whether you watch from the sidelines, play on the field, or work as part of the athletic training personnel for a team, here’s what you can expect as the season comes to a close.

As a Spectator

You’ve made it through the season relatively unscathed. Besides a few tweaks from celebrating those last-second touchdowns and the heartache of some close losses, you’re still in pretty good condition. If your team is out of contention for the post season, next season will be here before you know it.

Ankle Brace

In the meantime, you can use the extra time on the weekends to get active. Whether you want to hit the gym or watch the remaining games while walking on the treadmill, get creative and make sure you have reliable support with a knee or ankle brace.

As a Player

Regardless of how things turned out for you as a player, once the season is over, it’s time to focus on recovering from the toll each game took on your body.

Rest & Recuperation
Usually, players get at least four weeks to rest and recover from the season. You might take a vacation, spend time with family, or get active in different ways. Take advantage of this time because you’ll be back to training for next season sooner than you might think.

Physical Therapy
Many athletes must attend physical therapy sessions with a trained PT or the team’s athletic trainer toward the end of the season. Physical therapy is a great way to get the support you need to address areas of concern. This stage may involve stretches, exercises, sports braces, and more, depending on your situation.


Off-Season Health Plans
Off-season health plans include taking stock of your diet, exercise, and other wellness practices to support and maintain your body while the season isn’t in full swing. This may also include a rehabilitation plan such as progressing from knee braces toward knee compression sleeves as you build strength in the muscles and joints where you’ve experienced discomfort or injury.

As an Athletic Trainer

Athletic trainers work non-stop during the football season. If you’re an athletic trainer, you know about the hours on the field and in the training room, office, and PT areas. You deserve a break, but the work isn’t over just because the season is.

Recovery Plans
Some players need simple recovery plans for sprains, strains, or getting back in shape after a full recovery. After their time off, you’ll help them develop those plans, setting them up with the proper knee running support and PT exercises to return better than ever next season.

Referrals
If any players sustain serious injuries during the final games or while training for the next season, you’ll oversee referrals to doctors and medical professionals who specialize in those areas. Your referral can be crucial for helping them get the targeted support they need as quickly as possible.

Developing Plans for the Future
Many athletic trainers also conduct physical therapy sessions and create plans for the future with their players. Because they are involved with so many facets of the players’ physical health, athletic trainers are essential to almost every part of the off-season training.

Everyone may expect something different once the season ends for their team. The important thing is to stay on top of your health so you can maintain or even improve your performance next year.


About DonJoy®

When it’s time to hit the field or court, DonJoy® can help you stay at the top of your game with targeted support from their premium sports braces. This trusted brand designs and manufactures reliable sports braces to help prevent injury, enhance performance, and aid recovery. Best of all, DonJoy® was founded by a professional football player, so they know what it takes to help elite athletes enjoy improved balance, stability, and weight distribution on and off the field. With gentle compression and a comfortable fit, braces from DonJoy® are an ideal option for professional athletes, athletic trainers, high school athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone recovering from an injury. If you’re searching for support you can count on, look no further than DonJoy®.

Get more information on sports braces for football players at https://www.donjoystore.com/

Popular posts from this blog

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

What You Can Expect From an Athletic Trainer During Football Season

The Key Differences Between Wraps, Braces, and Sleeves for Knee Support