Watching the Superbowl football game started me thinking about how these young athletes get knocked around, fall, tumble and bounce up uninjured. Or are they?
In 2005 the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine published the following findings:
Three hundred thirty six elite college football players were invited to participate in a study of football related injuries. They underwent physical testing and medical evaluation. All had xrays and or MRIs. All shoulder conditions and previous surgeries were recorded. Consideration of playing position was important.
Of the 336 players, 50% had a history of shoulder injury, a total of 226 (1.3 injuries per player). Fifty six players had undergone shoulder surgery (34%), 73 total surgeries. The most common injury was shoulder separation, least common was rotator cuff injury (12%), clavicle fracture (4%) and posterior instability (4%).
Shoulder injuries were more common in quarterbacks and defensive backs. But surgery was more common in linebackers or linemen. A history of anterior instability was more common in defensive players, for whom surgery was required 76% of the time. Linemen had more rotator cuff injuries and posterior instability than other players.
Their conclusion: Shoulder injury is a common injury in college football players, with one third undergoing surgical procedures.
So, knowing this, I am no longer so envious of their ability to take a fall. I will definitely wince a little when I see the quarterback sacked or the lineman run head (and shoulders) into the opponent.
In 2005 the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine published the following findings:
Three hundred thirty six elite college football players were invited to participate in a study of football related injuries. They underwent physical testing and medical evaluation. All had xrays and or MRIs. All shoulder conditions and previous surgeries were recorded. Consideration of playing position was important.
Of the 336 players, 50% had a history of shoulder injury, a total of 226 (1.3 injuries per player). Fifty six players had undergone shoulder surgery (34%), 73 total surgeries. The most common injury was shoulder separation, least common was rotator cuff injury (12%), clavicle fracture (4%) and posterior instability (4%).
Shoulder injuries were more common in quarterbacks and defensive backs. But surgery was more common in linebackers or linemen. A history of anterior instability was more common in defensive players, for whom surgery was required 76% of the time. Linemen had more rotator cuff injuries and posterior instability than other players.
Their conclusion: Shoulder injury is a common injury in college football players, with one third undergoing surgical procedures.
So, knowing this, I am no longer so envious of their ability to take a fall. I will definitely wince a little when I see the quarterback sacked or the lineman run head (and shoulders) into the opponent.
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