Five common football injuries(4)

4.Quadriceps Contusion

Quadriceps are one of the important muscle groups responsible for knee movement. During football matches, there may be a lot of body contacts between footballers. The quadriceps are easily hit by the opponents resulting in contusion. The signs of contusion include muscle swelling and haematoma. Players are recommended to take a X-Ray to exclude the possibility of bone fracture.

Electrotherapy is needed to reduce pain and inflammation in the first stage. Quadriceps stretching should be performed in pain free range to maintain the muscle flexibility. at later stages, leg extension with theraband can enhance the strength of quadriceps.  Sprinting and jumping training of quadriceps is also crucial to enhance the power of muscles. Players can return to play when they can perform these movements without pain.

Besides, the Kinesio tape could also be used on the injured muscles to promote blood circulation which facilitate muscle healing.

Five common football injuries(3)

3. Ankle Sprain

The ankle joint consists of the tibia, fibula, calcaneus and talus with three lateral ligaments which help stabilize the joint. Usually, players stepping on the uneven ground and landing on opponents’ foot will result in excessive stretch of the ligament leading to ligament sprain.

Ligament sprains are categorized into 3 grades of severity:
Grade 1: The ligaments are slightly overstretched and there is no significant pain.
Grade 2: Nearly half of ligaments are torn. The injured players have significant pain when walking and decreased muscle strength and flexibility.
Grade 3: Complete rupture of the ligament which means it is torn in 2 parts. The X-ray imaging test is needed to check if any bone fracture. Usually it takes 6 – 12 months to heal.

The signs of ankle sprain are significant swelling and bruising and the pain is one of symptoms when walking.
Apart from rest and ice, electrotherapy like ultrasound is important to help reduce pain and inflammation. Also, patients should perform active ankle stretching at pain free range to prevent joint stiffness.
Strengthening the calf muscle with proprioception training such as single leg stand with weight shifting on bosu and calf raise are the crucial rehabilitation exercises. It can enhance the muscle control ability on the uneven floor to prevent recurrent injury.

Five common football injuries(2)

2. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a soft tissue that connects the femur and tibia to provide the stability control of the knee joint during walking, running and jumping. During the game, footballers often have acceleration in change of direction, landing and knee contact with opponents. The knee will be easily twisted or hyperextended by these movements. When knee joint is excessively twisted, the ACL will be overstretched and even ruptured.
The signs of ACL rupture include swelling and redness. The joint has laxity and cannot be flexed and extended smoothly.
Ligament reconstruction surgery is needed after getting ACL torn. After surgery, physiotherapy such as electrotherapy, ultrasound and manual therapy are important to promote soft tissue healing.
Besides, the trainings of strength and flexibility of thigh muscles are crucial during the rehabilitation.

1-2 weeks post-op: Performing isometric contraction training of the quadriceps and the hamstrings like straight leg raise and bridging is good to prevent muscle loss. In addition, players should perform quadriceps and hamstrings stretching in pain-free range to prevent joint stiffness.

2-6 weeks post-op: Players can progress to dynamic strengthening exercise such as wall squat and semi-lunge. Also, stability training like single leg stand is recommended to regain proprioception ability.

6-12 weeks post-op: Jumping and landing exercises like single leg hopping and lunge alternate jumping are good to build up plyometrics ability.

12 weeks post-op: SAQ (speed, agility and quickness) training such as sprinting, shuttle run are recommended for preparing return to play.