With pre-season football training returning and some nicer weather (hopefully) around the corner, many are returning back to getting active in preparation for summer and 2023! As a result, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the early signs of sport-releated muscle pain and injury which we have recently viewed towards the end of this year.
Particularly over the last few months, a spanner has been thrown into the works. Due to the wet weather, football grounds and grass ovals are much softer than they usually would be this time of year. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, connecting your calf muscles – primarily the gastrocnemius and soleus – to your heel bone and is used when you walk or run. The softer surface can increase stretch and load upon the tendon, leading to a greater amount of lower calf or Achilles pain. Tightness within this muscle group is very common and is usually not a big issue if managed quickly. However, the repetitive stress, and the increased tension on the tendon can lead to inflammation, which could lead to the possibility Achilles tendonitis if continued over time.
Additionally, when returning to activity, it’s important to do this slowly, rather than rushing right into it! Increased training loads within a short amount of time also can place increased pressure on some additional major tendons and muscles responsible for holding the structure of your feet. These structures include the tibialis posterior tendon, plantar fascia, peroneal tendons and tibialis anterior tendon. Common related podiatry injuries related to these structures include shin splints and plantar fasciitis.
Lastly, footwear is another factor that can be contributing to inefficiencies throughout the foot, with increased pressure being placed on one of the above tendons/muscles. It is important to regularly update your runners & football boots when returning back to sport! Check out our recent blog on replacing footwear if you need any guidance here!
Early management of all these commonly seen injuries include increasing your warm up period prior to activity, stretching pre and post training and foam rolling at the end of the day. At Talaria, we specialise in treating sport-related podiatry injuries & we can help to prevent any pain in your feet within this summer period! Don’t hesitate to book an appointment today!
