Football is a very popular sport. It draws in plenty of people who play casually, including those who are relatively new to fitness activities. Many teams train and practice on community pitches that sometimes have hidden divots and other uneven patches. The combination of these factors, along with a lack of appropriate foot support can lead to a common football foot injury.
Ankle sprain
If a player overstretches the ankle joint, the ligaments that surround it can be stretched too far, causing pain, inflammation and instability. In the worst example, the ligament can be completely torn, although this only happens in severe cases. You can help to prevent this common football foot injury by warming up well before training and matches, and by using performance sports insoles to provide additional support to steady your feet and ankles during play. Treat an ankle sprain with rest, apply ice packs to the area and elevate the joint where possible.
Metatarsal fracture
There are many small and fragile bones in the feet. When feet are put under repeated stress from running, kicking and jumping they can suffer fractures. They can sometimes occur through unexpected impacts like collisions or tackles. Be deliberate about doing foot strengthening exercises to encourage your muscles to provide support for the bones and wear protective shoes that will help absorb impacts. A metatarsal fracture will take some time to heal, so if you suspect you have one, keep the weight off your foot and seek medical advice.
Footballer’s ankle
Footballer’s ankle is another common football foot injury. It is generally developed through overuse and exertion of the ankle joint. When ligaments and tendons thicken through repeated use and possible inflammation, they can become pinched between bones, usually around the ankle. This is understandably very painful. Prevent footballer’s ankle by stretching and warming up well before training, avoiding sudden increases in exercise intensity or duration, and taking care to reduce impacts to the ankle where possible. If you have footballer’s ankle, rest as much as you can. Playing through this injury can lead to it worsening over time and you may need surgery to correct it. Also think about wearing some insoles in your shoes when you play and also when you recover to reduce impact this sport will have on your body.
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 PX1 impact protection technology, which means they can provide more shock absorption than any other insole. Our expertise, combined with the patented PX1 shock absorption technology, enables Enertor to deliver the most advanced injury prevention insoles on the market today.
The best insoles and socks to help with ankle recovery
If you have a weak ankle, twisting over far too often, the Performance insole from Enertor has a deep heel cup to stop some of the excess movements. A combination of the Performance insoles and Enertor recovery socks may give the ultimate solution to your ankle twisting over.
Ankle problems can be caused from running either too far or running on hard surfaces, reduce your distance and run on softer ground. Strengthening exercises of the ankle can also help but ensure that the exercises you preform are safe and effective, it should be performed under medical supervision. Talk to your clinician about what is best for you. Do not ignore pain, you should not feel pain during an exercise.
Enertor Performance insoles and Recovery socks are available to buy from our online shop.
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.