Football Injuries

Football injuries can be caused from collisions with an opponent or landing awkwardly from a jump. However, one third of football injuries are due to over use and gradually develop over time.

Common Injuries From Football

We diagnose your injury and provide expert physiotherapy treatment such as acupuncture. We can give you direction on exercises to do at home and information for improving your training regime and preventing further injuries. We can also provide information on correct footwear.

Sprained Ankle

A sprained ankle happens when the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint become over stretched or tear. The most common cause of a sprained ankle is when the foot is turned inwards, overstretching the outside of the ankle. When this happens, the ankle can even make a snapping or popping sound. The ankle will swell and bruising may be visible.

Knee Pain

This is pain in and around the knee joint. Knee pain is most commonly caused by arthritic changes or ligament injuries of the knee. Pain is usually worse when the knee is active. Pain and swelling may reduce the mobility of the knee joint.

Achilles Tendon Injury

The Achilles is the tendon at the back of the ankle. Achilles tendon injuries cause a soreness and stiffness in the tendon that gradually gets worse. It may be difficult to move the ankle. The tendon can partially or fully tear after an injury. It is commonly caused by overuse but can develop due to tight muscles within the leg that cause the foot to become misaligned.

Hamstring Strain

The hamstring is a group of four muscles that run along the back of the thigh. They allow you to bend your leg at the knee. When the muscles become overloaded, they may begin to tear. You’re most likely to get a hamstring injury when running and jumping, particularly when you have to stop and start suddenly. Glutes and hamstrings work together, weak glutes can contribute to hamstring injury. Hamstring strain can be severely painful, you will feel pain in the back of the thigh and the buttocks, especially when walking, straightening the leg or bending over. The area may also be tender and bruised.

Low Back Pain

Although playing football strengthens the lower back area, strain from repetitive impact can create pain. Repetitive arching or twisting can put a lot of pressure on the spine. Pain may present in a dull ache in the back, with or without pain in the buttocks. Muscles in the back can spasm and tighten, making it difficult to move.

How Can Physiotherapy Help Football Injuries?

We here at Sheffield Physiotherapy are used to working with footballers at the top level and have had a great success rate at getting players back into the game. Physiotherapy can help reduce stiffness, bruising and swelling in football injuries. The physiotherapist helps to improve mobility and strength in the painful area so that you can get back to your training.

After an assessment of the injury and your bio-mechanics, the physiotherapist may suggest soft tissue massage and electrotherapy. Acupuncture may also be used to promote healing and reduce pain. The physiotherapist can also advise you on exercises to do at home, training improvements and correct footwear. In the case of lower back pain or injuries Theraflex may also be used.

How Can I Prevent Football Injuries?

  • Make sure you do correct stretching and warm up exercises before playing.
  • Gradually introduce changes to your routine rather than diving in head first.
  • Wear the correct footwear.
  • Get regular sports massages.

How Can I Help Myself?

  • Take Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory medication (NSAID).
  • Elevate the area.
  • Rest.
  • Put an ice pack on the area.
  • Give the area a gentle massage
  • Try and gently stretch the joint.
  • Compress the area with a bandage.

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Similar Injuries

Cycling Injuries

Cycling involves as many as 5,000 revolutions an hour in the peddle cycle. When the tissue in the body is repetitively stressed in this way, injury occurs. No wonder over 95% of cyclists report having experienced an overuse injury at some point.

Running Injuries

Most runners end up seeing a physiotherapist at some point in their running career, whether they run for recreational or competitive reasons. There is a good chance you have experienced an injury already.

Golf Injuries

While traumatic injuries are rare, most golfers will experience issues that require a physiotherapist at some point. The majority of golf injuries occur in the back, shoulders, elbows and knees. This is because of the bending and twisting of the spine during the golf swing.

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