Chiropractors are employed by football teams at all levels, including professional, college, high school and even younger. This gives these doctors of chiropractic the opportunity to educate players and potentially prevent the occurrence of serious or catastrophic neck, head and spinal injuries on the football field. Most truly catastrophic football injuries are the result of compression of the cervical spine, and many of these injuries can be prevented when players are taught the importance of not tackling or blocking while the head is bent. Never block with the helmet, because the spine and surrounding muscles and ligaments are unable to absorb the force of the jolt that results.
Education about football injuries begins with the players themselves. All players should be encouraged to keep their heads up on contact and taught not to use their helmets as the way to make contact with an opponent. Players should also regularly perform exercises designed to strengthen and condition the neck and the muscles surrounding the cervical spine. A player's mind might be on the specific play in progress, but he should also focus on the techniques needed to prevent injury, whether minor or catastrophic.
The coaching staff also needs to be taught. The team's coaches and chiropractor should openly exchange information, because the chiropractor needs to know what the team's coaches know about training and body mechanics. The chiropractor can then use this information to hold a meeting with the entire team. The points to be discussed during this team meeting should include flexibility training and exercises that can develop the muscles necessary to maintain the cervical spine's integrity. Beneficial information like "always protect your neck," "keep your head up," "don't use your head as a piece of equipment," and "never make contact with your helmet" should also be discussed during the team meeting. Although it should be emphasized that accidental injuries will always occur, coaches should also be made aware that some injuries can be prevented or made less severe by simply ensuring that all players wear properly fitted helmets.
The players' parents should also participate in the chiropractor's team meetings. These sessions can bring about safer football games with fewer injuries. The parent's participation is important, because they can remind their players to use safer techniques during their games as well as encourage them to perform the proper technique while training. In fact, the team's liability can be reduced by educating the parents, players and coaching staff. No type of helmet is able to prevent all injuries of the brain, neck and spine, but many such injuries can be prevented if the coaches emphasize the mandatory sticker on the helmet and use it as a tool for teaching the players. This sticker reads "Warning. Do not strike another player with any part of this helmet or face mask. This is a violation of football rules and may cause you to suffer severe brain or neck injury, including paralysis or death." That's an extremely powerful message, and one that every football player should take to heart.
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