The arrival of fall means the start of football season across America, with high school and college students returning to practice fields during the week and games on the weekend. While football is a thrilling game, and students learn valuable lessons about dedication and teamwork, the sport also brings with it the risk of injury – which is where we at Ankle & Foot Centers of America can help.
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Understanding Athletic Exposure and Injury Statistics
Football has the highest injury rate among all high school sports, according to a massive study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and published by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The researchers used a national database to track all sports injuries at 100 high schools over five years, examining how often an athlete got hurt during a practice or game.
They used a common statistic known as injuries per “athletic exposure,” or AE — every time one athlete plays in one game or attends one practice. For example, say a football team has 40 players, and they practice five times a week. That’s 200 AEs a week. Five weeks of practice would result in more than 1,000 AEs. (Games would add to that.)
Football had nearly four injuries (3.96) for every 1,000 AEs, much more frequent than the runner-up, girls’ soccer (2.65 injuries per 1,000 AEs) — which is another fall sport. More than 15% of football injuries were to the ankle or foot – more than any other part of the body except for the head and face. The study also looked at the severity of high school sports injuries and found that about a third of all injuries (34%) required one to three weeks of recovery – while more than one in five (21%) ended the athlete’s season or even career.
Injury Patterns Among Elite College Players
Another interesting study showed just how prevalent those injuries are over time. In 2003, Medical school professors from two universities, assisted by the head trainer of the Pittsburgh Steelers, reviewed the health records of the elite college players who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine – the pro league’s annual weeklong tryout. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of all 320 players at the combine had suffered a foot or ankle injury during their high school or college careers, many with multiple injuries. The authors theorized that an initial injury made them more susceptible to future injuries.
How Ankle & Foot Centers of America Can Help
How Ankle & Foot Centers of America Can HelpWe offer minimally invasive surgery, where appropriate, that repairs severe injuries like fractures and torn ligaments while minimizing rehabilitation and recovery time. Our personalized rehabilitation programs are tailored to each athlete’s needs for faster recovery. And we provide preventive care strategies that include proper warm-up routines, footwear recommendations, and injury prevention techniques.
As our own Dr. Gregory Alvarez puts it: “Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that not only treats injuries but also ensures athletes can return to their sports with confidence and improved performance.”
