With how much money is on the line in the National Football League in the modern era, it should come as no surprise that players are provided with the best medical care possible at all times. This may make you jealous as you’re hobbling around weeks after suffering nothing more than a sprained ankle, but in understanding how the average NFL medical team operates, you may be able to understand what you could be doing better in your daily life to avoid injury. Therefore, an excellent new article from Bleacher Report is worth a read.
It lays out precisely the type of care that is offered to NFL players, starting well before a game is set to begin. To determine whether a player is ready for the game, doctors will have him take part in some stretches and light runs. The player will also be asked to go through various motions to make sure they’re capable of executing them come game time.
Now think about how you approach a workout upon recovering from an injury. You probably don’t have a dedicated team of medical professionals to watch your every move, so a lot of the care is on you. Don’t ignore warnings that your body is using to try to tell you that something is wrong.
If it hurts to even stretch a certain way because a part of your body is particularly tender, then you might take a rest day or work out other muscles, allowing the injured body part to recuperate. The same goes for if you try to run but even a light jog causes you to wince. These types of warmups not only help get your body ready for the full workout, but they act as a signifier of potential injury.
When a medical team on an NFL sideline determines that a player is ready but may need assistance, they won’t hesitate to put the player into a brace or tape the injured body part. If you’re intent on working out and feel you can manage the pain, then this type of equipment is essential to proper healing. Otherwise, you run the risk of exacerbating the damage that is already apparent.
If an injury occurs in-game, the medical team will kick into gear, paying attention to the injured body part while trying to get the individual in question to be as calm as possible. Without a medical team seeing to you, both of these activities are on you. If you’re not a medical professional, it can be difficult to determine the severity of an injury. You should strive to keep the injured area still and get to a doctor at once for proper evaluation.
Of course, please realize that not everything has to be on you. You can also enlist the help of a personal trainer to supervise injury prevention and recovery so that you know you’ll be properly cared for.