PHYSIOTHERAPY CARE

Sports, Spinal & Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

NEWS
Volume 1, Issue 1

Spotlight: FOOTBALL INJURIES !

Winter 2009
2ND METATRASAL

Welcome to our latest newsletter! We hope the articles are of interest to you and you enjoy reading our news. Whether you're a sports fan, want to know more about back pain, acupuncture or are just interested in what we can offer, why not take five minutes to browse
The excitement of the football transfer window continues to build up but once again its the metatarsal bone that everyones talking about following Joey Button the Newcastle troubled soccer star s recent foot injury- a broken metatarsal bone !! Tendayi Mutsopotsi explains why it such a common injury in football When Manchester United's Wayne Rooney went down in the penalty box at Stamford Bridge at the end of April 2006 clutching his foot in agony, England fans had an awful feeling of deja-vu. The resulting injury was a fracture of his 4th metatarsal - a similar injury to the one that befell David Beckham just before the last World Cup campaign in 2002. And, unbelievably, it was a break of a metatarsal in Euro 2004 that sent Rooney (and England) home early from Portugal. The metatarsals are the long bones of the foot and as a unit in the forefoot provide a broad surface for load-bearing. Metatarsal fractures are usually caused by a blow to the forefoot or by a twisting injury. These bones are also vulnerable to stress fractures, most commonly involving the second and third, these being the longest and narrowest. A stress fracture is not the result of a single occurrence, but rather an ongoing process. In cases of fresh injury, protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation (PRICE) are very helpful as well as antiinflammatory medication. An Aircast boot may be used if weight bearing is to be allowed, but an elastic bandage and non- weight bearing status are adequate.Total rest from sport for 4-8 weeks is usually necessary but this time is very variable depending on the site and severity of the injury. The patient must have a full range of motion, have redeveloped muscle flexibility and strength, endurance, proprioception, agility and cardiovascular reserve before returning to full competition.

DAVID BECKHAM APRIL 2002 DEPORTIVO

V

MAN UNITED

9 WEEKS OUT DANNY MURPHY MAY 2002 ENGLAND TRAINING CAMP 11 WEEKS OUT

3RD METATARSAL
SEPT

ROY KEANE

2005

MAN UNITED V LIVERPOOL 8WEEKS OUT

4TH METATARSAL
APRIL

LEDLEY KING

2006

TOTTENHAM V EVERTON WAYNE ROONEY

APRIL

2006

CHELSEA V MAN UNITED

5TH METATARSAL
APRIL

GARY NEVILLE

2002

MAN UNITED V BAYER LEVERKUSEN 21 WEEKS OUT

Come on Joey - you can do it! It is interesting to note that the players who tend to develop this injury have usually played significantly more games than average due to their international commitments and success of their clubs in competitions, and these injuries often occur towards the end of the season.

WAYNE ROONEY ENGLAND V PORTUGAL JUNE 2004 10 WEEKS OUT STEVEN GERRARD
SEPT

2004

LIVERPOOL V MAN UNITED 10 WEEKS OUT ASHLEY COLE

OCT

2005

ARSENAL TRAINING 28 WEEKS OUT MICHAEL OWEN

DEC

2005

TOTTENHAM V NEWCASTLE 16 WEEKS OUT

Physiotherapy Care London, Starlane Medical Centre, 121 Starlane, Canning Town, London, E16 4QH
Tel: 07859902139, 07828797871 Fax: 01708890197 Web: http://physiotherapycarelondon.webs.com e-mail: physiotherapycare@btinternet.com