The Ache of Playing in the National Football League

Summary:

Amongst the several positions played in the National Football League (NFL), quarterback is the only position that players dread to choose. The quarterback position is loaded with unexpected hits which the player must take in order to play an effective game. Sometimes, after being hit the player springs back to his feet and continues the game, while at other times it may result in a fatal injury, especially the back.

Amongst the several positions played in the National Football League (NFL), quarterback is the only position that players dread to choose. The quarterback position is loaded with unexpected hits which the player must take in order to play an effective game. Sometimes, after being hit the player springs back to his feet and continues the game, while at other times it may result in a fatal injury, especially the back. Several quarterbacks have sustained severe injuries or fractured bones. It is not an unusual sight for quarterbacks to sustain even more serious types of injuries like cervical spine damage and head injuries. In such instances, surgery is the only option and it leaves the player incapacitated for several months in a row. Usually, most quarterbacks are quite flexible and heal swiftly, but at times the injury can cause permanent damage. The damage could affect their mobility severely; they either become bed ridden, or move with huge efforts.

Despite injuries often players continue to play the game for the entire season, and this aggravates their problem, further. If the injury is serious the team physician or a coach would certainly prohibit the quarterback to play the remaining games of the season, subsequently many of the players hide the degree of their injuries. What they fail to realize is that their desire to be a part of the season has negative ramification on their body in the long run.

For instance, quarterback Donovan McNab played an entire season with hernia, and at the end of the season, he was hospitalized for immediate surgery to rectify the damage he had done to his body. He returned to the game the next season, and retired hurt again. Luckily, it was the end of the season, so he didn’t have to miss out on the playing.

That said it is potentially perilous to being a quarterback. Further, the pressure to perform well on the filed and win the game falls on their shoulder, lest they are benched, i.e., refrained from playing the further games left in the season. Drew Bledsoe, a Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback is a fine example of being benched by his team’s coach for failing to perform to his complete potential. As they say, there is a lot at stake for an NFL quarterback.

So, how do you stay fit for this position? Back stretching exercises, hamstring exercise, pilates and low-impact aerobics are some of the suggested forms of physical exercise that must be incorporated along with the game routines to prevent and recover from sustained injuries to the back, especially the lumbar area.

The refreshing news is that about 80% of NFL quarterbacks after their spinal surgery were able to return to play several games thereafter. The news is certainly uplifting for the common man who is apprehensive of turning into a physically inactive individual post disc surgery.

In order to stay healthy and fully functional post surgery, doctors advise their patients not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds, also the individual must take ample bed rest for three months for the recovery of the tissues to occur.

2011? Dr. Brendal Norris, Chiropracticbackpainrelief.org, Read other articles about back pain and back pain relief at http://chiropracticbackpainrelief.org for more answers to your questions about back pain, its causes, and cures.This article is from http://chiropracticbackpainrelief.org/the-ache-of-pl…ootball-league/