Contact-sport injury care · Lehi, Utah
Football and other contact sports combine sprinting, cutting, lifting and collisions. A good evaluation separates problems appropriate for conservative care from injuries that need imaging, emergency care or specialist referral.
What the activity demands
Injury rarely comes down to one “bad” movement. Symptoms often reflect a combination of workload, recovery, previous injury and the specific positions or forces the activity requires.
Common questions
Yes. We can evaluate many joint, muscle, tendon, neck and back concerns and determine whether conservative care is appropriate. Suspected fracture, instability, concussion or another serious injury is referred for the appropriate medical care.
A suspected concussion requires appropriate medical evaluation and a supervised return-to-sport process. We screen for warning signs and refer or coordinate care; spinal adjustment is not presented as a treatment for concussion.
A burner or stinger can cause sudden burning, electric pain, tingling or weakness from the neck or shoulder into an arm after contact. An athlete should not return while neck pain, weakness or neurologic symptoms remain.
Imaging may be appropriate after major contact, obvious deformity, inability to lift the arm, marked weakness, suspected dislocation or fracture, or when examination findings suggest it would change treatment.
Return depends on the injury. The athlete should have appropriate clearance when required, useful motion and strength, sport-specific tolerance and a staged progression from drills to controlled practice before unrestricted contact.
Yes. Recommendations account for age, growth, position, injury findings and school or league requirements. Younger athletes may need referral when a growth-plate injury is possible.
Common concerns
These are examples—not a diagnosis. Similar symptoms can come from different tissues or conditions.
Contact, falls and blocking can affect the shoulder complex, chest wall and surrounding muscles.
Read the related condition guide →Contact and loading may irritate muscles, joints or nerves and should be screened carefully.
Read the related condition guide →Cutting, contact and pileups can affect knee ligaments, joints, tendons or the meniscus.
Read the related condition guide →A tackle, planted-foot turn or awkward landing can injure ankle ligaments and affect balance or cutting confidence.
Read the related condition guide →Headache, dizziness, confusion or balance changes after impact require immediate removal from play and appropriate medical evaluation. The related guide explains headache warning signs; it is not a substitute for concussion care.
Read the related condition guide →Burning or electric arm symptoms may involve nerves in the neck or shoulder. Fractures—including growth-plate injuries in younger athletes—need prompt medical care.
Read the related condition guide →A practical plan
Returning to activity
Feeling better is important, but returning well also involves motion, strength, sport-specific tolerance and confidence.
General health information: CDC HEADS UP ↗
Safety first
Call 911 or seek emergency care for loss of consciousness, worsening confusion, repeated vomiting, seizure, severe neck pain, weakness or numbness, breathing difficulty, an obviously deformed limb, or rapidly worsening symptoms after impact.
Start with an evaluation
We will listen, assess the concern and explain whether care at our office is a good fit.
Other activity guides
