Today millions of people will gather in front of the television to watch the Green Bay Packers kick off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
The Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967 under the guidance of Coach Vince Lombardi and quarterback Brat Starr. They won again in 1996 with Brett Favre as the quarterback. The Super Bowl trophy is named in honour of the late great Coach Vince Lombardi.
The Steelers have won a league record six Super Bowl titles. They won four of their titles between the years of 1974-1979 with Chuck Noll as their coach and Terry Bradshaw as their quarterback. They had a tenacious defense known as the “Steel Curtain!” Their last two titles came in 2006 and 2009. Bill Cowher was the coach of the 2006 team, while Mike Tomlin, the current coach, coached the 2009 team. Ben Roethlisberger was the quarterback of both those teams. Every year there are several players around the National Football League who are injured and miss games. The Super Bowl is no exception. Several players suffer injuries to their lower extremities, specifically their feet and ankles
Players that will not play because of foot or ankle injuries:
Green Bay Packers: Ryan Grant: He started this year as the Packers lead running back, but he’ll be watching the game from the sideline. He suffered an ankle injury in week 1 of the regular season. He underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his ankle and was placed on the injured reserve. His recovery was scheduled to take 10-12 weeks. He is almost completely recovered and probably could have played in the game if the Packers had not placed him on the injured reserve.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey – The outstanding rookie, Pro Bowl selected, center has played extremely well this year, but he will not suit up for the big game. Pouncey was injured on the opening drive of the AFC Championship game. He suffered a high left ankle sprain, along with a broken bone in his left ankle.
Other questionable players with foot injuries are Erik Walden, Desmond Bishop, Emmanuel Sanders and Troy Polamalu.
What does it mean to have a “high” ankle sprain? First of all, when someone sprains their ankle it typically means that they have stretched or torn the ligaments around their ankle. A high ankle sprain occurs when the large ligament above the ankle is damaged. This ligament known as the syndesmosis, stretches from the knee to the ankle and holds the two shinbones, the tibia and fibula, together. It helps provide stability to the ankle joint. Often times when a person suffers this type of injury they may also fracture their ankle. People who suffer a high ankle sprain often have pain when the foot is rotated outwards or when the calf is squeezed. They also have pain when attempting to bear weight.
If you suffer this type of injury it is wise call my office and make an appointment. X-Rays will need to be ordered to assess for possible fractures and determine a treatment plan that is most appropriate for you. Enjoy the game today and be safe! Remember if you or any one you know suffers a foot/ankle injury I am here to help.