Tips To Keep Your Football Player On the Field and Out of the ER This Season

Football season always causes a buzz with Hornets in Burr Ridge, but did you know that football is the leading cause of school sports injuries? It doesn't have to be that way for your athlete, however. Here are a few tips from our sports medicine specialists to keep your football player out of the ER and on the field.

For parents and coaches:

• Warm-ups and stretching before and after a game will help prevent injuries, especially when the weather is cold
  • Warm-ups should be a light exercise for 3-5 minutes, then slowly and gently stretch the muscles that will be exercised, holding each stretch for 30 seconds

• During practices make sure participants are taking frequent water breaks to prevent dehydration and overheating
• Learn to recognize early signs of pain and discomfort in children and teach the kids to be aware of the signs themselves
• Make sure kids know they should tell a coach or parent if they do experience pain
• If an injury does occur make sure the child is seen by a physician and has physician approval before returning to the game

Concussions should be taken seriously, and anyone suspected of having a concussion needs to be checked by a medical professional immediately. If it is confirmed the child has a concussion the parents needs to follow the physician’s instructions and the child should not return to physical activity until he or she has the approval of the doctor.

Having the correct protective equipment is one of the most important things you can do to stay safe on the football field.

Make sure your football player has:

• Helmet
• Shoulder pads, hip pads and knee pads
• Pants (one piece or shell)
• Thigh guards
• Jersey
• Mouth guard with a keeper strap
• Athletic supporter
• Shoes
• Eyeglasses must have approved construction and non-shattering glass, called safety glass. Contact lenses also can be worn

Football is a wonderful fall tradition so let's work together to make sure nothing on our players' breaks while we're breaking out the blankets and earmuffs to cheer on our Hornets, and Lions!

Loyola University Health System sports medicine physicians are dedicated to enhancing sports performance and getting people back in the game. Each season a LUHS sports medicine expert from will offer tips to keep you safe and active. Dr. Pietro Tonino, MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine program for Loyola University Health System and is a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He has extensive experience in the evaluation and treatment of ACL injuries both in male and female athletes and implementation of prevention strategies for ACL injuries.