Football is indeed one of the fast and high-energy sports, which is why physical injuries are very common in individuals who prefer playing it. This is why it helps to know what to do when it happens and, better yet, how to prevent it from happening in the first place. You might be aware that the most common football injuries tend to affect the lower body the most. It includes a sprained ankle, hamstring strains, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, knee injuries, groin strains, etc. Plenty of players also end up injuring their wrists and hands or even getting a concussion (injuring their head when playing) in some cases.
A football injury can also happen from running, tackling, jumping or landing, turning or twisting, using the same muscles repeatedly, hurting an area that was injured before (reinjury), lack of physical conditioning, etc. It is always important to minimise the chances by taking the necessary preventive measures. Here are the tips and strategies to prevent common football injuries.
Skipping warm-ups is one of the major mistakes any football player can make. However, you would be surprised to know that it is quite common nowadays. Always remember that this bad habit can lead to significant problems down the road. According to many experts, most players either shortcut their warm-ups or just skip the entire session altogether for a few reasons. This includes:
But when it comes to injury prevention, warm-ups can prove to be highly helpful since they will ensure that your body is completely ready for whats to come ahead. This is why the best football club Brisbane, that offers football training, focuses on warm-ups a lot.
It is a fact that football is a physically demanding sport. It takes a lot of energy to play an entire game. Forgetting to fuel up beforehand can prove to be one of the biggest mistakes you make since you have the required energy. So, it is best recommended that you consume a healthy meal about two to three hours before the game. Since football is quite tiring, thanks to all the running and cutting, it is essential for individuals to consume food that is rich in carbohydrates. A few good options are peanut butter sandwiches and bananas.
Hydration is key when playing any sport. Although it should be a year-round practice, it is even more important during the summers. Football training under immense heat can easily dehydrate you, reducing your performance which can lead to injuries. Intense physical activity, when combined with high temperatures, can make the human body lose a lot of fluid, primarily in the form of sweat. This is why it is advisable to drink plenty of water before the practice session and every 20 minutes or so during the session. There are very few things as important as staying hydrated when playing a sport and trying to prevent injury.
Even though football injuries are quite common, it does not mean that you should not try to prevent them. Follow the tips mentioned in this article for injury prevention.