There’s nothing like sports on a crisp fall day, and as the weather continues to change, more and more football players and enthusiasts will be participating in this pastime. However, due to the physical nature of the sport, many end up turning to neck and back pain management so they can stay in the game. If you’re looking for relief, consider the following information on common football injuries and their respective treatments.

Which Neck & Back Injuries Are Most Common Among Football Players?

There are many ways to injure your spine when playing sports, especially during high-impact activities like football. Lower back injuries are often caused by repetitive, strenuous motions, such as sprinting, or by the rotation of the spine when twisting to catch a ball.

Upper back injuries can also arise when twisting or during tackles, which place excessive pressure on the ribs. These maneuvers cause players to slam onto the ground, putting the neck at risk of injury. Since this area is so close to the brain, pain caused by brute force is especially concerning.

How Can Neck & Back Pain Management Help?

While the road to a full recovery is long and unpredictable, there are plenty of ways to manage your pain in the meantime. The first step would be to see a neck and back pain management professional who can take an X-ray, CT scan or MRI of your spine and assess the damage. If the injury is too severe to respond to rest and over-the-counter painkillers, your specialist may prescribe corticosteroid shots, which are directly injected into the injured area to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort.

Physical therapy is another promising long-term pain management solution. This treatment focuses on strengthening the surrounding muscles that realign and protect delicate vertebrae. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct a skeletal misalignment.

If you’re looking for effective neck and back pain management, turn to iSpine Pain Physicians of the Twin Cities, MN, area. You can reap the benefits of their services from four convenient locations in Chaska, Crystal, Delano or Maple Grove. For more on their wide range of services, including back injections, visit their website. You can also call (763) 201-8191 to schedule an appointment.