FOOTBALL has become one of the most popular sports in Jamaica to watch and play. As great as it is for fun and fitness, it can place a huge amount of stress on the lower limb, and the more you play the greater the stress.

There has been an increase in foot-related injuries, which is due to excessive running, side-to-side cutting and direct trauma, such as tackling. The surface the sport is played on is also important. Hard surfaces like AstroTurf can increase friction and lead to further injury. These types of hard surfaces cause the studs to put pressure on the soles of the feet and it is very common to find footballers with corns and calluses as a result.

Common footballing feet injuries

The main injuries that tend to occur with footballers are:

1.    Ingrowing toenails due to poorly fitting boots and trauma.

2.    Fractures of the ankle, metatarsals and Lisfranc fractures.

3.    Contusions and bruising of the bones due to high impact tackling.

4.    Excessive repetitive training injuries leading to Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, sesamoiditis, and stress fractures.

5.    Ligament and tendon damage due to inversion ankle sprains.

It is advisable that anyone who regularly plays football and starts to feel pain in the foot, ankle or heel should see a podiatrist as soon as possible to avoid further injury.

Maintaining healthy footballing feet.

Correctly fitting boots are essential. Many players prefer a tighter fit because they believe it will give them better manoeuvrability over the turf and help to hold the boot on during the game. This is not true. A tight boot changes the biomechanics of the foot and restricts the blood flow.

Similar problems can be caused if the boot is too loose, as it allows the foot to slop around, leading to potential ankle and foot injuries. A well-fitting boot should have the studs placed strategically to the foot bones. Players should be able to comfortably move their toes around while wearing socks within the boot. The boot should also have good support with stretch control and preferably be made of leather.

Good foot hygiene prevents a number of problems that can lead to complications and discomfort while playing. Fungal and bacterial infections are common in athletes who do not maintain adequate foot hygiene.

Balance and awareness (proprioception) can be improved by using orthotics. These devices are worn inside the shoe to help maintain biomechanical function to ensure optimum performance.

It is important to maintain flexibility so that a wide range of motion can be achieved. This is especially important in those who are still growing as they often suffer with tight calf muscles and hamstrings. So stretch before, during and after a match.

Angela Davis BSc (Hons) DPodM MChS is a podiatrist with offices in Montego Bay (293-7119), Mandeville (962-2100), Ocho Rios (974-6339), and Savanna-la-Mar (955-3154). She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom.