Shoulder injuries are the fourth most common injury in American football players, according to “The American Journal of Sports Medicine.” Football players wear a range of protective equipment but the nature of the sport makes them susceptible to injuries.  Football player take more risks by running faster, hitting harder, which makes them even more susceptible to shoulder injuries.

Types of shoulder injuries

The types of shoulder injuries for football players vary, and are frequently related to the playing position. For example, quarterbacks are prone to shoulder tendinitis from the continual overhand throwing motion. The two most typical types of shoulder injuries are shoulder dislocation and a shoulder separation. Other common shoulder injuries include anterior instability, rotator cuff injury, strains, sprains, contusions and fractures.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Causes of injuries

Football shoulder injuries generally occur from contact with another player. These type of injuries are a result such as, from a tackle, block, collision, along with an impact with the ground. Player-to-player contact accounts for about 58 percent of shoulder injuries while the ground causes about 22 percent. Another 20 percent of injuries are cause from overuse or training injuries.

Shoulder injury prevention

Football players should take precaution to lower the chance of a shoulder injury. Football players should wear properly-fitted equipment, specially shoulder pads. Uniform fitting and protective equipment should occur after a pre-season health evaluation. The use of  proper tackling and blocking technique is also extremely important. Following a sport-specific strength and conditioning program can improve the strength, stability and balance of the shoulder joint to prevent injuries.

Shoulder injury treatment

Shoulder injuries can range from mild to severe. For mild football shoulder injuries, players will use a combination of rest, ice and compression wraps to promote healing. Only 22 percent of the shoulder injuries required more than three weeks of rest and physical therapy with only 6 percent requiring surgery. Some of these injuries can be treated by a pain management doctor.