The most common 6 injuries are listed below:
- Ankle sprains and strains. Perhaps the most common injury in all sports, ankles are susceptible to soft tissue damage when pivoting, changing direction, or putting too much pressure on the joint.
- ACL injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament in the knee can become damaged or torn when a player is impacted from the front or rear.
- Muscle or tendon injuries. Bursts of speed can cause the hamstrings to tear if the player is not conditioned or properly warmed up.
- Torn meniscus. When a player rotates their body while a foot stays planted, the knee can twist, causing the meniscus to tear.
- Muscle contusions. A strong impact to a large muscle, usually in the thigh, can cause a contusion. This is basically a large, deep bruise that can impair muscle function.
- Turf toe. Turf toe is a sprain of the main joint of the big toe which occurs as the toe is forcibly bent up into hyperextension, such as when pushing off into a sprint or stubbing the toe on the ground when kicking the ball.
Like with any sport, it’s essential that all your tools be in pristine condition to provide the best results.
Injuries like these can be treated or may be less likely to occur with a Sports Podiatry assessment by The Foot Practice for information on footwear, rehabilitation, customised foot orthotics or which exercises are best to reduce future injury techniques.
By analyzing your gait, foot strike, and current footwear, the podiatrist will be able to construct an orthotic that with help you best reduce your risk of injury. You will also be able to construct a strength and flexibility program that will aid in optimizing your strength and power return with each stride. This is a concept that is native to all sports where power sprinting is involved such as baseball, soccer and track and field.
