Common Knee Injuries Sustained by Football Players
Sep 15, 2015
American football is one of, if not the, most popular sports in the country. While it’s a fantastic game, injuries are unfortunately common in football. Considering the high intensity and full impact nature of the sport, this is not surprising. Football injuries range from concussions and traumatic brain injuries, to ankle sprains and fractures. In this article, we are going to discuss the common types of knee injuries that a football player can sustain on the field. We will also talk about some treatment options for these injuries, including PRP injections and regenerative medicine.
Football is a full contact sport. Even with all the padding and protective gear that players wear during play, injuries are quite common. Here are some of the most common knee injuries that people sustain playing football:
These injuries can happen to any player – amateurs and professionals alike. To diagnose an injury, a physician will perform a physical exam and will likely order imaging tests (x-ray, MRI, CT scan) to confirm a diagnosis before recommending treatment approaches.
Effectively treating football knee injuries requires a multi-faceted approach. First, an accurate diagnosis of the specific knee injury must be made. Only then can you move forward to treating the injury. After a diagnosis has been made, the physician will discuss your options for treatment and offer a recommendation based on your unique set of circumstances. Treatment options may include physical therapy, pain injections, or surgery to repair the knee injury. These methods all have varying levels of success. PRP injections offer an alternative to surgery that provides long-term results. Compared to steroid injections that wear off over time, PRP injections help rebuild damaged tissue in the knee and reduce pain.
If you or your child has sustained a knee injury while playing football, contact Dr. Thorson to make an appointment and see how PRP therapy can help you.