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Football is a very enjoyable, and competitive sport. Football demands a very high level of fitness and for those without that high level, injuries are quite common place. If you take your football seriously and train regularly then it is very important that you look after and maintain your body as best possible.


Common injuries can include:

Ankle Sprains
Due to the constant back and forth movement across the pitch,  this can put the ankles under pressure causing muscle strain and ligament sprains.

Shin Splints
The fasted-paced nature of the game, with sudden stops and starts, can cause damage to the muscles attaching to the front of your tibia (lower leg), causing pain and localised swelling.

Knee Injuries
Most knee injuries are related to over-use, sudden changes in direction and tackles. Injuries can include runners knee, chondromalacia patella and iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, cruciate ligament tears and meniscus damage.

Heel Pain
This is most commonly caused by a condition called plantar fasciitis. This is a painful soft tissue swelling that comes on with over-use or ill-fitting football boots. Heel pain is often sharp and occurs when you put weight on the heel. It can feel like someone is sticking something sharp in your heel, or as if you’re walking on sharp stones.

Achilles Pain
Your Achilles is the tough rubbery cord at the base of your calf muscle. This can often become inflamed from over-use.  You may have pain and swelling at the back of the ankle or heel. The pain may be minor but continuous, or it could be sudden and sharp. It may be worse first thing in the morning.

Muscle Strains
These can include injuries in the calves, hamstrings, quads, and hip. These can largely be avoided by warming up before playing and cooling down and stretching afterward.

The main causes of Football related injuries are:

  • Poor Technique
  • Over-Use
  • Weak Muscles
  • Spinal Misalignments
  • Not Warming Up Properly
  • Inadequate Equipment (boots that don’t fit)
  • Previous Injuries
  • Trauma – from falls, bumps, slips & tackles 

Symptoms of Football Injuries include:

  • Back Pain
  • Joint Pain
  • Leg Pain
  • Reduced Range of Motion
  • Stiffness
  • Tightness
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Numbness

How to avoid these injuries:

  • A good fitness regime to strengthen your core muscles and improve your overall fitness level.
  • An efficient warm-up and stretching routine to prepare you muscles before any game or training session. This will lower the chance of straining your muscles.
  • Get some coaching! Even if you are an experienced player, it can be easy to fall into bad habits. A coach will pick up any flaws in your technique and recommend ways in which you can improve your game.
  • Chiropractic care to maintain your spinal health.

Many Football injuries respond very well to Chiropractic adjustments which aim to encourage efficient joint motion, increase flexibility, reduce muscle tightness and improve alignment.

Spine graphic
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