Pain Management in Football

Pain management in football athletes is an essential tool clinicians and athletes utilize to treat injuries and possibly continue participation. Although the term pain can be used in a generalized manner, clinician’s focus should be distinguishing the type of pain and making a pathoanatomical diagnosis in order to formulate a treatment plan. This chapter focuses on explaining the physiology of pain and how to assess pain systematically. The chapter presents non-pharmacological and pharmacological pain management options with a discussion regarding evidence-based risks and benefits. With the opioid crisis and increasing cannabis use in the general population, a meaningful discussion is warranted for clinicians regarding opioid prescribing and cannabis use in football athletes. The chapter also highlights the use of injections and pertinent things to keep in mind when considering these interventions. Lastly, there is a focus on ethical issues in managing pain, encouragement for the clinician to first do no harm when making pain management decisions with athletes.