Athletes Who Suffered Career-Ending Injuries

Sports injuries range from the rather miniscule, to the potentially career-threatening. Here are some of the athletes whose promising careers were cut too short by injuries.

Doc Powers – Powers played as a catcher for the then Philadelphia Athletics of Major League Baseball. However, in the Athletics’ first game at the newly constructed Shibe Park, Powers got injured chasing a pop-up straight into a wall. He suffered numerous internal injuries and died two weeks later.

Joe Theismann – A former quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Theismann enjoyed a successful 11-year NFL career only to be forced out of the game for good in 1985. In a game against the New York Giants, Theismann suffered a brutal break in both the bones of his lower right leg after being sacked by Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.

Steve Moore – Playing for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Moore stepped away from the game for good after being punched in the back of the head by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Todd Bertuzzi. Moore was laid out by Bertuzzi with a blind cheap shot, resulting in three cracked vertebrae and a concussion. As of press time, Moore still suffers from post-concussion syndrome.

Mike Utley – Former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley went off to a promising start, but his career ended abruptly after suffering an injury to his sixth and seventh vertebrae in a game against the St. Louis Rams. After the incident, Utley became paralyzed from the chest down.

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The Most Common Sports-Related Knee Injuries

Cycling, basketball, and football are among the most exciting sports, as with most sporting activities, are also plagued with many hazards. In a recent report, the Department of Health & Human Services estimates that 12 million Americans between 5-22 years old suffer from sports-related injuries every year. A large portion of these injuries affect the knee.

Here are the most common knee injuries sustained in sports:

Patellar Fracture

The patella or knee cap is a small bone that protects the knee joint. Because of its size, the knee cap can be easily get fractured by traumatic contact, such as bumping into another player or falling knee-first on the floor. Fractures may be as mild as hairlines or as grave as shattered bones.

Dislocation

High-intensity contact sports like football can result to direct blows to the knee. Once the trauma occurs, the bones connecting the knee and the knee cap can pop out of alignment. Other pathologies, such as arthritis, may aggravate the possibility of a knee dislocation.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear

The knee is supported by various ligaments and tendons, including the ACL. When the athlete abruptly changes direction or jumps with improper form, the ACL tears easily. Strength training on the legs, plyometric exercises and form correction are recommended to avoid ACL injuries.

For any pain or other symptoms that suggests a knee injury, visit your nearby Riverside sports medicine clinic. A board certified orthopedic and sports medicine physician determines the proper course of action to treat your condition.

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