Football is one of the most dangerous Sports in terms of Player injuries. Concussions, ligament sprains and tears, and tibial fractures are some of the most common injuries, raising ongoing concerns for the well-being of Players. Acknowledging and addressing these issues is vital for the health of Athletes who dedicate their time and energy to the Game. This blog, we are tackling the issue of football injuries, concussion statistics, the NFL’s latest protocols and rule changes, and advancements in helmet technology.
Current Injury and Concussion Statistics
The Latest Data on Football Injuries and Concussions
During the 2023 regular season, the number of Games missed by Players due to injury decreased by 700. This decline was driven by a reduction in lower-extremity injuries, including strains, knee injuries, and ACL tears. According to the National Football League (NFL) (2024a), “Lower extremity strains – the highest burden of injury in terms of time lost among NFL Players – reached a four-year low across the preseason and regular season” (para. 5).
Concussion rates in 2023 were consistent with those in 2022, but remained significantly lower than rates from 2015-2017. Among Players wearing Guardian Caps during preseason practices, concussions dropped by 50% compared to previous years (NFL, 2024a).
Most Common Types of Injuries and Their Frequency
Common injuries sustained by NFL Players include ligament sprains and tears, concussions, and tibial fractures. In the 2023 season:
- 52 ligament sprains or tears occurred, marking a 24% decrease compared to the past two seasons.
- 219 concussions were reported, with 422 concussion evaluations conducted (Battista, 2024).
- 14 tibial fractures were reported between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2023, the highest number among professional Sports Leagues (Punreddy et al., 2024).
Injury Rates Across Different Levels of Play
Injury rates vary by level of play:
- NFL: 19.3 out of every 1,000 Players incurred an injury between 2017 and 2022 (Angileri, 2023).
- College Football: 8.9 out of every 1,000 Players are seriously injured annually, with 90% reporting injuries during their career (Blake, n.d.).
- High School Football: Between 11.26 and 13.52 out of every 1,000 Players experienced injuries each year over the last decade (Rausch Physical Therapy, 2023).
The NFL’s Latest Protocols and Rule Changes
Recent Rule Changes to Enhance Player Safety
The NFL implemented significant rule changes aimed at reducing injuries, including:
- Adjustments to kickoff play, revising yard line positions and rules for kickoffs to lower injury risks.
- Prohibiting the swivel hip-drop tackle, which often results in Players landing on another Player’s legs, now penalized by a 15-yard penalty.
- Placing the ball at the 25-yard line on fair catches during kickoffs to limit high-speed collisions.
- Prohibiting the use of helmets to hit another Player’s head, neck, or surrounding areas forcibly (NFL, 2024b).
Additional Medical Personnel on the Sidelines
Since 2013, the NFL has required an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant on each sideline to provide a second opinion during concussion evaluations. Suspected concussions result in immediate removal from the Game. Before returning to regular play, Players undergo:
- Treatment by Team medical staff, including neuropsychologists.
- Symptom-free examinations and gradual reintroduction to play.
- Final clearance from an independent neurologist (Conidi, 2015).
Advancements in Helmet Technology
Innovative Helmet Designs and Materials
The NFL continues to innovate helmet designs to maximize Player safety:
- Position-specific helmets provide targeted protection based on Player roles.
- 3D-printed helmets from manufacturers like Riddell and Carbon are customized to fit individual Players, reducing the impact of collisions and further lowering injury risks (Penn Medicine, 2023).
Smart Helmets and Real-Time Impact Data
Riddell’s InSite Analytics technology delivers real-time data on helmet impacts, improving both Player safety and performance. This cutting-edge innovation allows Teams to make immediate adjustments, enhancing overall Player protection. Smart helmets are increasingly being adopted by college and high school Teams, reflecting their potential for a broader impact (Riddell, 2023).
Conclusion
The NFL has made remarkable progress in prioritizing Player safety, from rule changes and updated protocols to advancements in helmet technology. These efforts are crucial in minimizing injuries and concussions, and additional measures like obtaining Insurance for Organizations ensures Players remain properly covered and supported. Continued research and innovation will play a vital role in maintaining and improving Player health, ensuring the Game evolves safely for future generations.
References
Angileri HS, McLoughlin DE, Owen MM, May JM, Terry MA, Tjong VK. Association of Injury Rates Among Players in the National Football League With Playoff Qualification, Travel Distance, Game Timing, and the Addition of Another Game: Data From the 2017 to 2022 Seasons. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023;11(8). doi:10.1177/23259671231177633
Battista, J. (2024, February 2). NFL’s prioritization of player safety leads to promising injury data for 2023 season. NFL. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-prioritization-of-player-safety-leads-to-promising-injury-data-for-2023-season#:~:text=There%20were%2052%20ACL%20tears,or%20in%20Week%2018%20games.
Blake, P. (n.d.). How common are sports injuries in college at SVC? The Cardinal. https://thecardinal.skagit.edu/how-common-are-sports-injuries-in-college-and-at-svc/
Conidi, F. X. (2015). Concussions and the National Football League. Practical Neurology. https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2015-jan-feb/concussions-and-the-national-football-league#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20in%202013%20the,opinion%20on%20the%20assessment%20of
Domb, B. (n.d.). The most common injuries in the NFL. Benjamin Domb, M.D. https://www.benjamindombmd.com/blog/the-most-common-injuries-in-the-nfl/?bp=26102#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20most%20common,causing%20severe%20pain%20and%20disability.
NFL. (2024, February 2). 2023 season key takeaways. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/injury-data/2023-season-key-takeaways
NFL. (2024, May 29). NFL health and safety related rules changes since 2002. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/equipment-and-innovation/rules-changes/nfl-health-and-safety-related-rules-changes-since-2002
NFL. (2024, September 22). NFL drives innovation in helmet safety, leading to better, safer helmets for players. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/equipment-and-innovation/engineering-technology/nfl-drives-innovation-in-helmet-safety-leading-to-better-safer-helmets-for-players
Penn Medicine. (2023, February 1). How helmets have evolved to prevent football concussions. https://www.chestercountyhospital.org/news/health-eliving-blog/2023/february/how-helmets-have-evolved-to-prevent-football-concussions#:~:text=Football%20helmets%20have%20come%20a,How%20Better%20Helmets%20Protect%20Players
Punreddy A, Guirguis P, Botros M. Quantifying the Performance of Professional Athletes Following Traumatic Tibial Fractures. Cureus. 2024 Apr 28;16(4):e59198. doi: 10.7759/cureus.59198. PMID: 38807815; PMCID: PMC11130534.
Rausch Physical Therapy. (2023, February 1). High school football: What are the chances of injury? https://rauschpt.net/high-school-football-what-are-the-chances-of-injury/#:~:text=For%20high%20school%20football%20players,injuries%20per%201%2C000%20athlete%20exposures.
Riddell. (n.d.). InSite. https://content.riddell.com/InSite/#:~:text=SMART%20HELMET%20TECHNOLOGY%20THAT%20RECORDS,and%20reduce%20head%20impact%20exposure.