Football season brings excitement, hard hits, and a steady stream of questions about injuries. This guide explains what the most common football injuries mean, how they happen, what symptoms to watch for, and what recovery looks like. You will learn how physical therapy for football injuries helps athletes return to the game with confidence, and when to see a licensed physical therapist for an evaluation.
Reviewed and contributions made by VP of Clinical Development Thomas Denninger
Why These Football Injuries Happen And What Recovery Involves
Football is fast, physical, and unpredictable. Quick cuts, high-speed sprints, and contact place heavy demands on your knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, and head. If you are a player, a parent, or a fantasy football fan trying to decode weekly football injury reports, it can be hard to know what each injury means and how long recovery might take. This handy guide walks through five common football injuries, including ACL tears, concussions, hamstring strains, ankle sprains, and turf toe, so you know what to expect and how expert care supports a safe return to play
If you or a loved one has experienced a sports injury, come to ATI Physical Therapy for an initial evaluation with a licensed physical therapist. We will build a personalized plan around your needs. In most cases, no doctor’s referral is needed to get started.
ACL Tear
What it is
The ACL is a key knee ligament that keeps the joint stable during cuts and landings. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and limits forward slide and twisting. In football, it often tears during a quick change of direction, a sudden stop, or an awkward landing from a jump. Many people hear or feel a pop, then notice swelling and a sense that the knee wants to give way with pivoting.
Common causes
- Sudden direction changes or cuts while the foot is planted.
- Awkward landings from a jump.
- Direct contact that drives the knee inward.
Typical symptoms
- A pop at the time of injury, followed by swelling within hours.
- Feeling of giving way or instability.
- Pain with cutting or pivoting.
- Trouble with football cutting drills and quick stops.
Common treatments
- Early care focuses on swelling control, range of motion, and quadriceps activation.
- Many athletes choose surgical reconstruction, especially for cutting sports.
- Some people do well with structured non-surgical rehab depending on sport and stability demands.
- Bracing may be used in phases of rehab.
How physical therapy helps
- Restores range of motion and reduces swelling.
- Rebuilds quadriceps, hamstring, and hip strength.
- Trains landing mechanics, cutting drills, and sport-specific agility.
- Uses return to sport testing to guide timing and reduce reinjury risk.
When to see a physical therapist
As soon as possible after injury or diagnosis. If surgery is planned, prehab improves early strength and post-op outcomes. If non-surgical care is chosen, a licensed physical therapist can develop a program tailored to your specific sport.
Concussion
What it is
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that temporarily changes how the brain works after a hit or hard jolt. The rapid movement causes the brain to shift inside the skull, which disrupts normal signaling for a short period. You do not need to black out to have a concussion, and CT or MRI scans are often normal. Symptoms may start right away or can build over several hours. Most concussions improve within days to a few weeks with the right plan, which includes a gradual return to school, daily life, and sports following a return to play concussion protocol.
Common causes
- Helmet-to-helmet contact.
- Falls to the turf or ground.
- Hits that jar the head and neck.
Typical symptoms
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise.
- Feeling foggy or slowed down.
- Balance problems or vision changes.
- Symptoms can appear right away or develop over hours.
Common treatments
- Brief relative rest, followed by a gradual return to learning, daily activity, and sport.
- Medical evaluation to rule out red flags.
- Addressing neck pain, vestibular symptoms, and vision issues when present.
How physical therapy helps
- Vestibular and balance retraining for dizziness and motion sensitivity.
- Cervical spine mobility and strength for neck-related headache.
When to see a physical therapist
Visit a physical therapist if symptoms persist beyond a few days, or if dizziness, balance issues, or neck pain are limiting your daily life. Follow the school or league’s return-to-play rules and seek medical care immediately for any worsening symptoms.
Hamstring Strain
What it is
A hamstring strain is a pulled muscle in the back of your thigh. The muscle or tendon fibers overstretch or tear during a sprint, a sudden start, or a long stride. Strains are graded from mild to more severe, which influences recovery time and when sprinting can resume. Prior hamstring injuries and limited hip strength raise the risk of another strain.
Common causes
- Sprinting at top speed during a breakaway.
- Sudden acceleration or deceleration.
- Previous hamstring injury or inadequate warm-up.
Typical symptoms
- Sudden sharp pain in the back of the thigh.
- Tenderness, bruising, or swelling.
- Pain with running, kicking, or bending forward.
- Difficulty with football sprint work and long routes.
Common treatments
- Early protection and pain control.
- Progressive loading with exercises that lengthen and strengthen the hamstrings.
- Gradual return to sprinting and change of direction drills.
How physical therapy helps
- Selects the right exercises at the right time, such as hip-dominant and knee-dominant loading.
- Restores hamstring length, power, and coordination.
- Screens sprint mechanics and strength imbalances to reduce recurrence.
- Guides return to run progressions and late-stage speed work.
When to see a physical therapist
If pain limits walking, running, or practice, or if you have a history of repeated strains. Early guidance helps you progress without setbacks.
Ankle Sprain
What it is
An ankle sprain is a stretched or torn ligament around the ankle. Most involve the outer, or lateral, ligaments after the foot rolls inward. A high ankle sprain involves the ligaments between the two shin bones, which help hold the ankle together and often take longer to heal. Without the right rehabilitation, the ankle can remain stiff, weak, or prone to reinjury.
Common causes
- Rolling the ankle during a cut or when landing on another player’s foot.
- Direct contact that forces the ankle to twist.
- For a high ankle sprain, the foot is planted with the leg rotated outward.
Typical symptoms
- Pain, swelling, and bruising around the ankle.
- Pain above the ankle for a high ankle sprain.
- Difficulty putting weight on the foot, especially on uneven ground.
- Trouble with football change of direction and planting to cut.
Common treatments
- Early care focuses on swelling control and protected weight bearing.
- Bracing or taping for support during the early return to activity.
- Progressive strengthening, balance, and agility drills.
- Imaging or medical referral if pain is severe or not improving.
How physical therapy helps
- Restores ankle motion and swelling control.
- Rebuilds strength in the calf, peroneals, and hips.
- Trains balance and change of direction skills to reduce re-sprain risk.
- Grades load and running progressions so you return safely.
When to see a physical therapist
See a physical therapist if walking is painful, if the ankle feels unstable, or if you have repeated sprains. Early rehab reduces the chance of chronic instability.
Turf Toe
What it is
Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint. The toe bends back too far during push-off, stressing the tissues on the underside of the joint, including the plantar plate and small sesamoid bones. Stiff playing surfaces and flexible shoes can increase stress at this joint. The result is painful push-off, slower acceleration, and trouble cutting.
Common causes
- Forceful push-off on a stiff surface while the big toe is extended.
- Getting the toe caught on turf or in a shoe while the body moves forward.
- Repeated microtrauma from explosive starts.
Typical symptoms
- Pain and swelling at the base of the big toe.
- Pain with push-off, sprinting, or cutting.
- Stiffness and tenderness when the toe is bent back.
- Difficulty pushing off during football acceleration.
Common treatments
- Relative rest and swelling control.
- Taping, stiff-soled shoes, or a turf toe plate to limit painful motion.
- Gradual loading as symptoms ease.
How physical therapy helps
- Reduces pain and stiffness with gentle mobility and soft tissue work.
- Builds foot and calf strength to improve push-off mechanics.
- Progresses running, cutting, and return to sport drills based on tolerance.
- Guides footwear and insert choices during recovery.
When to See a Physical Therapist
Consider an evaluation if any of the following apply:
- You miss practice or limit play because of pain.
- You have swelling that does not improve over a few days.
- You feel unsteady, weak, or afraid to cut or sprint.
- You have a history of the same injury and want to prevent a setback.
- You are unsure how to progress your return to play.
A licensed physical therapist can assess movement, strength, and sport demands, then build a plan that matches your role and timeline. If you or a loved one has a new football injury, come to ATI Physical Therapy for an initial evaluation with a licensed physical therapist. We will build a personalized plan around your needs. In most cases, no doctor’s referral is needed to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do football injuries take to heal?
Timelines vary by injury and severity. Some sprains and strains improve within weeks. Others, such as ACL tears, require longer rehab. Your therapist will guide the timeline based on your strength, function, and the demands of your sport.
Do braces or tape help with football injuries?
They can. Bracing or taping supports the joint during early return to activity. Your therapist will help you choose the right option and show you how to apply it.
How do I know when it is safe to return to football?
Return to play should be based on symptoms, strength, motion, and functional testing, not the calendar alone. Your therapist will assess sprinting, cutting, landing, and position-specific skills to help you make an informed decision.
Is imaging always needed for football injuries?
Not always. Many soft tissue injuries can be diagnosed and treated based on history and exam. Your clinician will refer for imaging when needed.