Later this week, families across the country will be celebrating Thanksgiving by eating a hearty meal, spending time with loved ones, and tuning in to one of the many football games that will be on television. But in some cases, families may be intent on engaging in some football action of their own.
This is a tradition that is alive and well in many families, but unfortunately, it can lead to some fairly serious orthopedic injuries if the participants aren’t careful. A surgeon with the Loyola University Health System has come out with some valuable tips for nonprofessional persons who plan on playing football this Thursday, and it’s important that you consider his advice if you fall into that category.
Although you may feel young at heart, realize that those who are middle age and beyond are probably not going to be able to move in the same manner as teenagers. The younger kids may be sprinting across the field, making dangerous cuts and spin moves that look like they could break an ankle, but that doesn’t mean you should mimic that behavior.
Stay well within your capabilities when you’re playing football with friends and family, making sure to take plenty of breaks and not push yourself too far. If you start to feel sore or a given body part is giving you grief, remove yourself from the game. Go inside and take weight off the injured body part (which, by the way, gives you an excuse to go inside and eat a turkey sandwich and watch football).
You should be approaching this like you would any other physical activity, which means giving yourself ample time to warm up. You (hopefully) wouldn’t run a few miles without stretching out, so you shouldn’t put off such a warmup period for a friendly game of football either. Stretch out all muscle groups and get your blood flowing with a light jog or some similar activity.
Also make sure that you’re in the right state of mind when playing football. That means that, if you’ve had a couple of beers for lunch, you shouldn’t be out a few minutes later sprinting down the field. Alcohol limits your body’s ability to react appropriately to the rigors of exercise, and you could find yourself getting winded more quickly or suffering falls and stumbles that could contribute further to an injury.
Finally, the author makes the point that persons playing football ought to make sure that they’re dressing appropriately. Wear clothing that gives you ample room for movement. As far as shoes go, think about foregoing cleats. Not only could they hurt someone else, but they could get caught while planting, causing you to twist painfully.
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