Injury prevention is personal. Generic preventative exercise programmes are likely to modify some risk factors of injury, but the evidence proves that an individualised programme, designed specifically for each player, is considerably more effective. The first article in this series discussed risk factors of injury and outlined clinical tests that can screen for these risk factors, providing normative data to enable the medical team to identify those players at risk of injury. This article covers the next challenge which is to establish the best method for modifying these risk factors. It outlines the basic principles of designing an injury prevention programme, and examines the current research on the most commonly used methods in the field of injury prevention. This article contains a number of PDF exercise programmes, tables and a certificated elearning quiz.
We all know injuries are bad news in all sports, but in football an injury can have particularly far-reaching effects which is why surveillance and screening programmes are essential. Not only does an injury have... Read More
Working in a multidisciplinary team can be frustrating and difficult at times. Creating a team requires a clear strategy with objectives and boundaries and good communication. To ensure a functioning and useful team, members must... Read More
This case study presents the insights gained from the presentation and treatment of a longitudinal sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee in a professional footballer. MCL sprains are usually transverse and... Read More
This article provides the reader with an evidenced-based update on the risk factors commonly associated with hamstring injuries in football. These risk factors have been classified into two groups: non-modifiable and modifiable. Additionally, the reader is provided with a detailed insight of the prevention strategies and interventions used to nullify the modifiable risk factors and ultimately reduce hamstring injury rates.
This article describes a case study of the diagnosis, assessment and rehabilitation of a youth team footballer who sustained an acute patella dislocation. The study includes all the information needed to effectively rehabilitate players including the mechanism of injury, risk factors, a needs analysis for the sport, problems identified and evidence-based management. A successful, logical and evidence-based rehabilitation programme is presented, and objective measurement with an evidence base is detailed throughout.
This article provides an update on the current available evidence on the assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis of hamstring injuries in soccer. After a detailed insight into the epidemiology, functional anatomy, and injury mechanism for hamstring injuries, a detailed clinical examination, which is supported by clinical evidence, clinical experience and innovative practice, is demonstrated. Finally the recent Munich classification system is presented to improve clarity of communication for diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic purposes.
This article highlights that a simple approach, in terms of combining a literature-based analysis with practical assessment methods, could determine a subject’s physical status in terms of susceptibility to injury in their given sport. After such an analysis, the pre-participation physical examination can be refined greatly in order to highlight any injury risk factors associated with an athlete, which helps to limit the potential time required to assess an entire team.
Spontaneous rupture of the plantar fascia is not commonly presented within physiotherapy or sports injury literature. The incidence within professional football players is even rarer. This is a case report of a professional footballer who had a rupture following a short bout of moderate plantar fasciitis. The actual rupture occurred early in a competitive league game but the player completed a full 90 minutes and only missed 11 days of training going against all existing literature on the condition being debilitative in the early stages. Rupture was diagnosed through pre- and post-injury MRI. This case discusses presentation, treatment of plantar fasciitis, MRI results, and treatment and rehabilitation of the spontaneous rupture. Differences between plantar fasciitis and plantar fascia rupture are also discussed in line with MRI findings.
Thank you. Your account has been created and you have now been logged in. We will send you an email so that you can set your password for future use.
