Football Injuries in Houston

Understanding Common Football Injuries

Here are the most common categories of football injuries. 

1. Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries are all too familiar to football players. In fact, a recent study found that 452 out of 6,732 injuries reported by National Football League players between 2019 and 2022 involved the shoulder. 

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury is common in this category, often resulting from a direct blow to the shoulder or a fall. Another frequent football shoulder injury is a rotator cuff tear, which involves damage to one or more of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff or their tendons. 

2. Knee Injuries 

Football injuries to the knee include: 

• MCL injuries: These typically result from direct contact during play, such as tackling or being tackled. Symptoms may include pain on the inside of the knee, tenderness and a feeling that the knee might give out. 
• ACL injuries: One of the most severe injuries in football, ACL injuries often result from sudden changes in direction, cutting or pivoting movements that cause immense knee stress. At the time of injury, you may hear a popping sound and may experience swelling and loss of range of motion as it progresses. 
• Meniscus tears: These occur when the C-shaped cartilage in the knee is damaged by twisting the knee, leading to localized pain, swelling and stiffness, among other symptoms. 

3. Hamstring Strain

Hamstring strain is prevalent in football because the sport requires sprinting and sudden stops. Players may feel a sudden, sharp pain sometimes accompanied by a popping sound and rapid swelling.

Football Injury Treatment in Houston

Regardless of the football injury you’ve sustained, a precise, in-depth diagnosis is the first step to healing. That’s why Dr. Barrett S. Brown begins treatment for Houston athletes with advanced imaging and a thorough physical exam.

With over 23 years of experience, Dr. Brown is a renowned board-certified orthopedic surgeon and key provider at Fondren Orthopedic Group. Known for his expertise in sports medicine and orthopedic care, Dr. Brown offers the following: 

• Reconstruction: Treatments for football knee injuries and specialized reconstructions to replace or repair damaged ligaments. 
• Rotator cuff repair surgery: Often recommended if conservative treatments for rotator cuff tears prove ineffective. 
• Minimally invasive treatments: Includes knee arthroscopy for knee injuries like meniscus tears. 

Dr. Brown adopts a patient-first philosophy, which focuses on comprehensive, milestone-based treatment. The goal is to help ensure you are physically and mentally prepared to return to the field, minimizing the risk of reinjury as much as possible. 

Build Your Comeback Strategy

Let an expert football injury doctor in Texas develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific injury and sport. Book an appointment online or call us at 346-247-2531 today.