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Michael Milnes of Rochester, MN: Football-Related Injuries

Michael Milnes is licensed physical therapist located in Rochester, MN, who has been in practice for more than twenty years. One of his specialties is treating athletes with sports injuries and indicates that he treats more football-related injuries than any other sport.According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 920,000 athletes under the age of 18 were treated in emergency rooms, doctors' offices, and clinics for football-related injuries in 2007.
 

Bodily Injuries

The most common football-related injuries are to the knee, especially affecting the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL or PCL) and to the menisci (the cartilage of the knee). These types of injuries often have long-term adverse effects for a player. Football players also have higher incidences of ankle sprains.Shoulder injuries are also quite common and the cartilage surrounding the socket part of the shoulder (i.e., the labrum) is particularly susceptible to injury. Fortunately, a licensed physical therapist can determine the best treatments for these types of injuries.
 

Overuse Injuries

Back pain, especially lower back pain, is a common complaint in football players due to overuse. Overuse can also lead to overtraining syndrome, when a player trains beyond the ability for the body to recover. Knee pain (e.g., patellar tendinitis) is a common problem that football players develop. and are treated by a physical therapist who often will recommend a quadriceps-strengthening program.
 

Concussions

Football players are overwhelmingly susceptible to concussions. A concussion is a change in the mental state of an individual due to a traumatic impact to the head. Michael Milnes of Rochester, MN, cautions that not everyone who suffers a concussion loses consciousness. Some signs of a concussion are headache, dizziness, and nausea, as well as loss of balance, drowsiness, numbness /tingling, difficulty concentrating, and blurry vision. Dr. Michael Milnes stresses that an athlete should return to play only when cleared by a qualified health care professional and adds that physical therapy cannot be used to treat a concussion.