If you or someone you know is a football player and has suffered from an injury related to the physical demands of the sport, our staff can provide assistance. For physical therapy in Farmingdale, NY, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy East today.
Football is one of the country’s most popular sports, not only to watch but to play at the youth level. Countless young athletes are suiting up for their school district or other organized teams this football season. While football will provide them with the opportunity to exercise and work with a team, it also comes with a substantial risk of injury. Performing a tackle with improper technique is a common example of a component of football that can lead to injury. Form tackling at all levels is a subject that has been hit with plenty of controversy this decade. Today, we will provide a brief overview of how to perform a proper form tackle in football. If you have suffered an injury related to impact from a football collision, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy East for physical therapy in Farmingdale, NY.
Executing a Proper Form Tackle
There are many elements to perform a safe tackle in football, and techniques vary depending on the defender’s position, but the following are key components for performing a proper tackle:
Never lead with the helmet or use the top of the head to strike an opponent.
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This is the most important component. Helmet to helmet hits are incredibly dangerous and can put one at severe risk for a concussion. Never attempt to tackle an opponent with your helmet, regardless of the situation.
Keep your shoulders pinched and your head and eyes up.
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This prevents the tackler from leading with their head as well as increases their awareness of other players around them.
At the point of contact, bring both arms into a double uppercut motion underneath your opponent’s arms (thumbs up elbows down), and drive your hips upwards to create an ascending tackle.
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Finish this tackle by grabbing the back of the opponent’s jersey and pulling them into you. This stops the opponent’s momentum, secures the tackle, and prevents you from taking an unnecessary, dangerous risk with your body to secure the tackle.
Drive your legs to finish the tackle.
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Using your legs and lower body strength to finish the tackle ensures the ball carrier will have no forward momentum.
For more information about proper technique for tackling or other athletic movements, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy East, a provider of physical therapy in Farmingdale, NY.
How Can Physical Therapy Benefit Athletes?
Unfortunately, even with the proper fundamentals and techniques, a player is always at risk of injury while performing a tackle. Generally, participating in the game of football comes with a substantial risk of injury. These injuries can range in type and severity, however, one of the benefits of physical therapy is it can treat a variety of sports-related injuries.
For example, a physical therapist can help treat some of the following:
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Reduce pain associated with certain injuries through strengthening exercises, massages, and other techniques.
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Improve one’s mobility and balance disrupted from injury or improve one’s flexibility and range of motion to help prevent injuries from occurring.
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The services of a physical therapist are highly personalized, so treatment plans can be developed to address the specific nature of one’s injury.
If you’re suffering from a sports injury, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy East, a provider of physical therapy in Farmingdale, NY today!