Soccer Podiatry

Soccer injuries

Soccer involves a great amount of running, so it makes sense that your feet, ankles and knees are going to be placed under an immense amount of stress for long periods of time. This can lead to two different types of injuries, acute and chronic.

An acute injury is often hard to avoid, and usually occurs when two players collide when running for the ball. An acute injury can be either soft tissue or bone related. These types of injuries are sudden, can be very painful and require immediate treatment.
Ankle sprains are a very common acute injury. Typically these are avoided by ankle strapping, proper shoe fitting and maintaining muscle strength in your core and lower body.
Most chronic injuries occur through excessive wear and tear/ fatigue and sometimes lack of preparation. The earlier the intervention, the better the long-term results. Some very common chronic lower limb problems include: Achilles Tendonitis, Sesamoiditis, Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain), Shin Splints, ITB problems and Sever’s Disease in the younger population.

Choosing the Correct Soccer Boots

Soccer boots are a very significant piece of equipment for a soccer player. So it is important to get it right. Some important features are listed below:

• Different features of studs, including shape, size and the position of them, influence the grip of the boot on the ground. Blade style studs grip better and promote speed, whereas rounded studs release faster from the ground.
• The upper of the boot can be made from either leather or synthetic materials. Synthetic materials are typically lighter, whereas leather conforms to the foot better and gives the player a better feel of the ball.
• The innersole provides cushioning to the foot and should be removable so it can be replaced when worn out. If you wear orthotics, a removable innersole makes fitting them far easier.

If the foot posture is the cause for your symptoms, this needs to be addressed by an orthotic device. Other treatment options include shockwave therapy, prolotherapy, dry needling/massage and strapping/padding. Your Podiatrist will be able to explain what treatment is best suited to you in regards to your injury and biomechanics.

At the Foot and Ankle Clinic our highly qualified team of Podiatrists are all members of the Australian Podiatry Association and offer a combined 50 years’ experience. They are trained to diagnose and effectively treat soccer injuries via a range of treatments.

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