Football: A sport needing medical attention
By Jay Lee
Football is not a sport for the soft
(Image courtesy of Pexels.)
When it comes to injuries, American football, rugby, or basketball are usually the first that come to mind. However, many are not aware that association football or soccer also has its fair share of injuries, from head to toe, and more severe than all other sports.
Football’s most common injuries are strains and sprains especially at the hip and ankle, as there is a lot of moving in the sport, or because you get tackled in an awkward position at the ankle. The sport is also one of the most exhausting sports, with players running 10.8 kilometers per game compared to an average of three to four kilometers for basketball players, mainly because football games are far more lengthy than basketball games and the pitch is much bigger. This leads to fatigue in players, and therefore the sport consistently affects players’ health.
Fatigue in players causes further injuries since muscles cannot receive as much energy to be stretched, causing twists and other severe problems. This attests to why warm-ups like running laps and stretching are essential so players can run a lot and cross the ball far away with minimal tension on muscles and diminish the number of injuries. Especially in months with games packed like December or during the COVID-19 pandemic when games are constantly being postponed, teams play almost every three days, situating players in a more fatiguing position.
Additionally, head injuries are also one of the most significant problems in the sport, as clashes with the ball or other players can cause concussions or severe damage. Groups like the Scottish Football Association have even announced bans on children heading balls to reduce concussions that make up 22% of the sport’s injuries.
In terms of footballing positions, there is no safe position. Even goalkeepers are prone to injuries when trying to fight with opposition players to keep the ball out with their heads or fists or if rocketing shots hit their fingers at an awkward position. That is why wearing gloves is beneficial not only for grip but to prevent injury.
In conclusion, because of these injuries found in the sport, it can be noted that football is not a sport for the soft as it could leave many not being able to live their life normally for weeks or months or maybe even having to retire. Studies show how players are even vulnerable to post-career disorders and problems like CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease), that could happen to players that may have had concussions or severe head clashes. These injuries also underline why being a football player is not an easy job.
However, this article’s aim is not to highlight football as dangerous and deliver the message that it shouldn’t be played necessarily, but rather to stress that medical staff at games are a must in sports games and that players should be medically trained to save others. For example, Christian Eriksen may have died from cardiac arrest in a match between Denmark and Finland if it wasn’t for Denmark’s medical staff and Simon Kjaer preventing him from swallowing his own tongue. It also attests to the reason for players to warm up and cool down before and after games respectively to make sure further injuries do not happen.