As fall sports start to ramp up, the prospect for athletes to sustain injuries also increases. Endeavor Health sports medicine specialist Shannon Powers, DO, highlights the importance of recognizing signs of injury and how best to prevent more serious issues.
“This is a good time of year to remind athletes, parents and coaches the importance of pre-season training with proper conditioning, sport-specific skills and technique instruction, appropriate recovery and essential hydration and nutrition,” said Dr. Powers. Good training and sufficient recovery can go a long way toward injury prevention.
However, injuries do happen and knowing when to seek medical guidance and treatment can make a critical difference in recovery and overall wellbeing for athletes of all ages.
Be on the lookout for these five common fall sports injuries:
Concussions. Common in both football and soccer, concussions are typically the result of direct contact and may happen during a tackle, hard fall or a header in soccer, said Dr. Powers.
“Any time there is a concern that an athlete may have suffered a concussion they should be removed from practice/play and assessed,” stressed Dr. Powers. “And if there is any suspicion of a concussion after the initial evaluation, athletes should not return to plan until they’ve been cleared by a physician.”
Seeing an athlete stumble or grab their head after a fall could be a sign of a concussion. Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light or sound and nausea.
A prolonged loss of consciousness, worsening decline in neurologic status, facial changes including weakness or numbness, are more worrying and warrant immediate evaluation in the Emergency Department and likely CT imaging to rule out intracranial pathology, warned Dr. Powers.
Knee and ankle injuries. Knee injuries including MCL (medial collateral ligament), ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscus tears are common in both football and soccer, with meniscal tears among the most frequent occurrences. Many of these injuries happen from direct contact like a tackle where an athlete is hit on the side of their knee, or a hard fall, leg plant or pivot.
“These injuries typically present with pain, difficulty walking, limping or limited mobility,” said Dr. Powers. Immediate swelling is typical with an ACL tear and delayed swelling is more common in a meniscus tear. A knee that feels unstable or buckles is another sign, and all of these symptoms are reason to seek professional evaluation from a physician to rule out a fracture or something worse, she added.
Ankle sprains are among the most common ligament issues in football players. “There’s a general misconception that if you can walk on it, it’s not fractured,” said Dr. Powers. “We see it all the time and ignoring a fracture can lead to a more serious injury and a far longer time away from sport. Even if you suspect an athlete may have an ankle sprain, they should seek medical evaluation to rule out a potential underlying fracture.”
Treatment for strains and less severe injuries typically includes all or some form of RICE — rest, ice, compression and elevation — as well the anti-inflammatories and physical therapy for more serious injuries, before returning to activities.
Shoulder, clavicle or collarbone fractures. Direct impact like tackles and hard falls can cause a variety of shoulder injuries common in football. Pain, limited mobility, trouble reaching across the chest and/or a visual misalignment can all be a sign of a shoulder fracture or other injury that warrants a physician evaluation. A visible deformity requires immediate attention, and any numbness or weakness can indicate nerve damage and the need for urgent evaluation.
“So often athletes just want to stay in the game, but ultimately it’s important to realize you don’t want a lifelong or permanent deficit and prompt attention and medical care can help avoid more major issues,” said Dr. Powers.
- Shin splints and plantar fasciitis. Cross country season means leg pain for many athletes and is generally the result of an overuse injury like tendonitis, shin splints or even a stress fracture. Lingering pain, pain that wakes you up at night, and limping can all be signs of overuse and, when left untreated, can lead to bigger problems that take far longer to heal. Plantar fasciitis and patellar tendonitis are also common overuse injuries and can happen in high school when athletes are still growing.
Heat-related illness. With summer camps starting and rising temperatures, Dr. Powers encourages everyone to be aware of the potential severity of heat-related illnesses. “They can happen with any sport and it can be life threatening,” she said.
“Lethargy, headaches, fatigue, confusion or altered mental state can all be a sign of heat stroke. It’s not always a feeling of being hot, and it must be treated right away,” said Dr. Powers.
“Pain is not always gain. Recognizing the signs of injuries sooner rather than later is vital to long-term wellness and your ability to stay active,” added Dr. Powers.
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