Superbowl: Insider Scoop

While we are watching (and eating) from the couch, these athletes are suffering some pretty severe injuries every single week. 

Here's what you need to know:

- Different positions mean different injuries

- QBs are susceptible to shoulder dislocations. This happens when they get hit while they are throwing the ball in the forward motion and the arm is in an extended, abducted, and externally rotated position. 

- When you see lineman, they are usually wearing hard, knee braces. This is because they often suffer knee injuries from their starting position they are forced to hold play after play. MCL injuries are also common in these players

- Receivers and Tight Ends commonly suffer ACL injuries. This can be explained by the cutting and pivoting that they do on the field. Some football fields have turf and some have grass. Research is still out on how surface affects likelihood of ACL injuries in these positions. 

- When you see the Athletic Trainer on the field splinting an injury with what looks like a stiff, red bag- that is called a Vacuum Splint and it usually indicates that there is a suspected fracture or bony injury

- If the Athletic Trainer is removing the facemark from the player's helmet and the athlete is making little or no movements on the field, then there is usually an airway issue.