If you were to ask a Denverite, football would undoubtedly make it to their list of top five reasons they love the city. With every major sports team, including the beloved Denver Broncos, this is a top-tier sports city.
Conversely, it means several occasions each year warrant a visit to a Denver sports injury center. Not even the best of players is immune to injuries related to trauma, overuse, and heat.
Concussions, sprained ankles, pulled hamstrings, and Achilles tendinitis are among the common injuries requiring emergency medical services in Mile High. The tradition of football obsession still lives on as we will observe in this article. Keep reading to know Denver, Colorado’s love for this sport along with the impact of injuries and ways our favorite athletes overcome them.
Denver: Where the Love for Professional Football Blossoms
1960 marked the year when the Denver Broncos started playing in the American Football League. Naturally, the city’s love for football deepened from this point. Fast-forward eight years and Denver purchased the Broncos’ Stadium, which was renamed the Mile High Stadium.
Rugby football had steadily become a sought-after sport among Denverites in particular and Coloradoans in general. Little boys wanted to imitate their favorite National Football League (NFL) players. With 508 all-time wins, there is little doubt as to the popularity of the Denver Broncos.
Denverites take much pride in discussing the game stats at every opportunity they can find. Statista records that the 2023 Denver Broncos had a home attendance that exceeded 76,000. Despite being an average, this number gives us an idea of the level of overall support the team receives.
The Issue of Higher Altitude
An elevated position of 5,280 feet above sea level is what makes Denver the Mile High City. In general, it may not make much of a difference as people report, since the air is thinner and drier.
However, the same can be highly discernible for those involved in laborious sports activities. Let’s clarify that local football players may be accustomed to the conditions. It is amazing how the human body can adapt to survive. Hence, they may feel less of the effects of the higher altitude, which may include –
- Reduced stamina, which is a direct result of poor oxygen delivery. The mile-high altitude reduces oxygen delivery to different organs significantly. Muscles will have to work extra hard in Denver when compared to sea-level locations.
- Breathlessness due to the thinner air in the atmosphere. Visiting athletes may have to inhale five breaths for every four due to slow oxygen delivery. This can accelerate the process of fatigue.
- Ball dynamics also change considerably at higher altitudes due to decreased air resistance. This could be in favor of the punters as the longest punt in NFL history happened at the Broncos Stadium in 1969.
Injury Impact and the Support Needed to Heal
A wide range of injuries become commonplace in the case of high-contact sports like football. These may occur in the form of traumatic, musculoskeletal, or heat-related injuries. The first affects the brain and consciousness, leading to disorientation, hallucination, or fainting.
The second impacts the bones and muscles. These may happen in the form of sprains, fractures, hamstrings, etc. The final category of injuries may cause muscle cramps and dehydration. In case you’re wondering, Denver does experience sultry summers for at least 40 days, sometimes more.
Hence, native and visiting teams are vulnerable to all these types of common football injuries. Now, let’s look at some ways in which support is provided to players.
Chiropractic Care
Players with musculoskeletal injuries are often recommended for chiropractic care. As stated by the Denver Integrated Spine Center, the healthcare team will focus on reviving the musculoskeletal structure in case of limited mobility. They will also handle similar situations in case of chronic pains or weakness in the limbs.
Even in case of no injuries, players can benefit from chiropractic care to keep their bodies flexible. A brutal sport as it is, football can lead to soreness and stiffness of joints. Frequent chiropractic care can increase body strength and resistance against injuries.
RICE Treatment Method
From mild to moderate injuries, the RICE method is an ideal self-care option for them all. This acronym stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. In case of a sprain or muscle pull, the player would be advised to take ample rest.
Generally, 24 to 48 hours of complete rest should aid in faster recovery. During the resting period, ice would be applied to the injured area for 20 minutes at a four-hour interval. At the same time, an elastic medical bandage would be wrapped around the sprained area to reduce internal bleeding or swelling.
Finally, the athlete would be asked to lie down in a position above heart level. This is done to prevent fluids from accumulating at the injured spot. Along with these, oral medications may be administered to reduce pain and swelling.
Graduated Return to Play (GRP)
Managing traumatic brain injuries among football players is possible using this effective protocol. Along with medical support in the form of medicines, surgeries, etc., GRP is used as a way of complete physical and mental rest.
Light aerobic exercises like walking and swimming are permitted. Once the athlete has recovered, they can participate in full-contact practice. If they can cope, they may return to normal play after a few weeks.
Bringing this to a close, we would like to touch upon the heat-related injuries too. The athlete is offered plenty of electrolytes to rehydrate themselves in the event of dehydration.
When too much body mass is lost, players are given time to replenish themselves before the next training session or match. 2023 accompanied a record number of players (30) being sent to the Denver injured reserve.
With a never-ending cascade of sprains, aches, and pains, rigorous efforts were made to help the players heal. The game was naturally affected with recoveries extending into the season. That’s the part-and-parcel of football, a game that continues to be Denver’s adrenaline rush.
