As football has increased in popularity as a participation sport, so have the number of foot, shin and knee related injuries.
Experts believe that, at least in part, the typical construction of modern football boots and the associated effects on the body are to blame.
To help accommodate the blades, moulded or metal studs into the boot, the designs are constructed with a flat footbed. The issue with this type of design is that it delivers a lack of support along the mid foot arch which results in pronation or supination. Other issues include reduced cushioning and less shock absorption on heel strikes.
This lack of shock absorption can lead to common football injuries such as heel pain, shin splints and pain in the knee.
In this article we are going to look at shin splints gained by football training and some treatment and prevention measures.
What are shin splints? Shin splints are an inflammation of the shin area. The injury typically affects the part of the shin 6 inches above your ankle joint. If you have pain in this area and it feels tender when pressed upon, it’s possible that you have shin splints.
Why do shin splints occur? Shin splints occur when the calf muscles repeatedly pull on the inside of the shin bone. This causes the muscles to become inflamed and swollen. A lot of different causes may to be blame including tight or weak calf muscles, worn-out or incorrectly fitting running shoes or football boots.
Other causes can include too much training taking place on hard surfaces where greater shock is applied to the body or a change in the training load or types of exercises carried out.
Who gets this injury? For a new amateur football player or someone returning to the game after a break, they may pick up this injury when starting a new more intensive fitness schedule. A semi-professional or full-time footballer may suffer from shin splints if they undergo intensive training and cover lots of mileage. As mentioned, those wearing boots or training shoes that do not fit correctly may also suffer from this injury.
What is the best treatment for shin splints? Generally it is recommended that players should rest for 7 – 10 days to allow the swelling to go down.
RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) should be used to help speed up recovery and reduce the pain of the injury.
Semi-professionals or pros may also want to think about changing their training regimes to reduce stress on the shins.
The use of orthotics in football boots can increase the comfort levels and the performance of the boot, reduce shock and the likeliness of injury and can also help in reducing fatigue levels. Football boot orthotics can be incorporated into an overall injury treatment or prevention program.
Always consult a doctor or qualified professional for personalised medical advice on injuries and treatments.
About Enertor Advanced Technology Insoles – Enertor insoles are designed to prevent a number of common running injuries and provide more comfort. Designed by leading podiatrists to reduce your risk of injury, the unique design features support your foot throughout training. Enertor insoles are enhanced by D3O impact protection technology, which means they can provide more shock absorption than any other insole. Our expertise, combined with the patented D3O shock absorption technology, enables Enertor to deliver the most advanced injury prevention insoles on the market today.
Enertor insoles are available online HERE .
Whilst Enertor has over 18 years Orthotics experience, our blog content is provided for informational purposes only and it is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical advice. Enertor advises anyone with an injury to seek their own medical advice – and do not make any health or medical related decisions based solely on information found on this site
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