Americans love football.
In fact, football is still the most popular sport in America, according to this year’s survey by the Harris Poll.
But football is also the most dangerous sport in America.
It leads several safety studies as the sport with the most catastrophic injuries–those resulting in serious or long-term disability.
In the following video, Dr. Charles Fulk, a local Kansas City chiropractor, explains why.
Treatment for Kansas City’s Worst Football Injuries
Kansas City chiropractors treat hundreds of football players every year. Both professional and student athletes seek regular chiropractic treatment during their sports seasons, and many find relief from some of the worst football injuries.
1. Soft-Tissue Injuries
Sprains and strains are some of the most common and often considered some of the worst football injuries. A sprain is an injury to a ligament, and a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.
Most sprains and strains in football occur in the lower back area due to the force the back often absorbs when a football player is tackled.
Signs of Soft Tissue Injury in the Lower Back:
- Pain that radiates down to the hips
- Local tenderness and brusing
- Pain while bending, twisting or lifting
2. Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash injuries don’t just happen during a car accident. In a whiplash injury, the head jerks backward and then forward with such force that it overextends the normal range of motion of the neck.
A whiplash injury is one of the worst football injuries because it’s often left untreated. When this happens, the injured tendons and ligaments begin to develop scar tissue.
This can eventually limit the range of motion in your neck. If you think you may have a whiplash injury, it’s important to be evaluated by a professional. Chiropractors specialize in treating all types of head and neck injuries.
Warning Signs of a Whiplash Injury
- Neck pain or stiff neck
- Headache
- Dizziness or Blurred Vision
- Sleepiness
- Difficulty Sleeping
3. Spondylolisthesis
I know. That’s a crazy, technical-sounding word, it’s really a simple idea.
Spondylolisthesis (spon + dee + lo + lis + thee + sis) occurs in the spine when one vertebra slips forward compared to the next vertebra. Spondylolisthesis compresses the nerves that are exiting the spine, usually causing sharp lower back pain.
Some of the worst football injuries happen to young athletes.
Back pain can be debilitating, especially for football players who regularly sustain forceful impacts to the shoulders, chest and back. That’s why spondylolisthesis made our list of Kansas City’s worst football injuries.
The good news is that Kansas City chiropractors treat hundreds of cases of spondylolisthesis each year through conservative chiropractic treatment. Most cases don’t require surgery, but the sooner it’s diagnosed, the more quickly you can return to full health.
Warning Signs of Spondylolisthesis
- Lower back pain or leg pain
- Hamstring tightness
- Numbness or tingling in the legs
4. Herniated Discs
Your discs are the fluid-filled cushions that separate the individual bones (or vertebra) in your spine. They act as shock absorbers and provide flexibility to the spine.
When one of these cushions is cut, the jelly-like fluid inside begins to leak out. This is called a herniated disc.
Herniated discs made our list of the top worst football injuries because of the recovery time required before an athlete is back to full health.
Chiropractors treat herniated discs using a technique called “flexion-distraction.”
During this treatment, chiropractors use a cushioned table that gently stretches the spine.
While the patient lays face down on the table, their feet and legs are lowered and raised to stretch the spine. This allows the chiropractor to determine which area of the spine is injured while slightly “flexing” the spine with a pumping rhythm.
Once your chiropractor determines the area of injury, he’ll do a complete physical and neurological exam and take X-rays. He’ll then treat the area with chiropractic adjustments and usually, physiotherapy. This helps to return the bones of your spine to normal alignment, alleviate the pressure on the disc and allow the disc to heal properly.
Signs of a Possible Herniated Disc
- Back pain
- Back spasms
5. Fractures (Broken bones)
A bone fracture can be minor or serious. More serious fractures require a cast to stabilize the bone, allowing it to heal correctly. Football bone fractures, however, are usually minor. When football athletes are exposed to direct blows, forceful rotation and compression, bone fractures can often result.
Most athletes with severe fractures have pain at the site of the fracture almost immediately, but with minor fractures the pain may before worse, gradually.
If you suspect that you might have a bone fracture, have it evaluated by a licensed Kansas City chiropractor.
*Chiropractors always take X-rays when there are possible signs and symptoms of a bone fracture, and they never administer chiropractic adjustments without first ensuring that your bones have no possibility of fractures or instability.
Signs of a Possible Bone Fracture
- Swelling a bruise over the bone
- An arm or leg that appears deformed
- Pain that hurts worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied
- Loss of function
Even the worst football injuries can be treated through conservative chiropractic care. If you think you might have a football injury, contact our team of experienced Kansas City chiropractors to discuss your symptoms or schedule an appointment online, today.
Fulk’s 12 chiropractors offer chiropractic care to hundreds of Kansas City athletes every year. They are in-network with every insurance company in the Kansas City area and offer treatment 7 days a week.