Louise Moore Podiatrist @ The Treatment Hub

Louise is a keen rugby player and offers her alternative 6 nations blog

6 Nations or 6 Niggles?

 

As the 6 Nations kick off and the Rugby World Cup is approaching, it’s a great time for all you rugby fanatics out there, weather you’re a player, a coach or a supporter on the side-line (with a beer in hand)! Rugby is becoming increasingly popular with positions to suit everyone whether you’re male or female, big or small, fast or slow, strong or weak, old or young! One thing is for sure, the morning after game day your body will be aching!!

 

As a keen rugby player for over 7 years I’ve certainly had my fair share of injuries, none quite as dramatic as a slow-mo action shot that they capture on TV! We all know rugby is a tough, physically demanding game on our bodies so I wanted to discuss some common lower limb rugby injuries that we see coming into our clinic. Our great team of Podiatrists, Orthotists and Sports Therapists are here to offer advice and treatment.

 

Blisters/ Blood Blisters

Ordinary blisters arise from friction to the superficial layer of the skin but blood blisters are slightly different. Blood blisters most commonly occur in the feet and can be tender to touch, never mind the pain when running for a try! Blood blisters develop in the deeper layers of skin because of excessive localised pressure and friction which causes the capillaries to rupture. With pressure being a key cause they frequently develop over bony areas in the foot such as the heel, the ball of the foot or under the big toe. If you suffer from reoccurring blood blisters our team of Orthotists and Podiatrists can help with treatment to minimise the risk of infection and prevention to ensure your activity levels are not affected.

 

Plantar Fasciitis/ Heel Pain

This is a common injury that we see. It is an overuse injury of the plantar fascia tissue that spans across the sole of your foot, from the heel to behind the toes. The plantar fascia typically presents as pain on the first few steps in the morning or after long periods of sitting and the insertional point at the heel is the most common site of pain in this condition. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by over-pronation/ flat- feet, unsupportive footwear or playing boots, increase in weight including during weight training or injury. The best treatment for this condition is to identify the cause and treat appropriately with orthotic management.

 

Sprained/ Fractured ankle

Another common injury when the ground is hard or when the field is a mushy, muddy mess! Ankle strength and stability is important for all athletes. When playing on different surfaces our ankle joint is designed to adapt and move to the ground surface but injury can occur when the ankle joint is twisted too far out of its normal position. There are varying degrees of injury in this case ranging from ligament sprains, tendon strains, or fractured bones and each require a tailored rest/ rehab programme.

 

Achilles tendonitis/ rupture

The Achilles’ tendon comes from the calf muscle and inserts into the back of the heel. It is a key component in controlling ankle movement. The tendon is a strong structure but high loads/ forces place on the structure can cause weakening, inflammation or rupture. Poor running technique, poor foot mechanics, flat terrain or flat footwear can all contribute to weakening of the tendon. Common symptoms of this condition present as pain along the course of the tendon, tenderness when pinching the tendon and pain or discomfort when moving the ankle joint. Clinical assessment and tests can be used to determine the extent of injury but further investigation with Ultrasound or MRI scans may be required.

 

Calf rupture

I’ll describe this condition from experience.. A very painful, black and blue, swollen leg that didn’t fit into any pair of jeans I owned!! A soft tissue rupture can be an extremely disabling condition which requires rest and rehab and occurs when the force applied exceeds the strength of the muscle, or in my case, being in the wrong tackle at the wrong time!! The two large muscles in the calf; Gastrocnemius and Soleus can both be involved. There can be various degrees injury ranging from muscle strain to complete rupture and an appropriate assessment is important to correctly diagnose the injury and arrange a suitable rehab programme to get you back to activity. Our sports therapist Grant can offer an injury specific massage in this case.

 

Knee pain

The knee is a complex joint made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The knee acts as a hinge joint moving in one direction only so any twisting or turning of the knee will damage the structures within the joint. There are some common knee injuries seen on the rugby field because of specific positions and plays involved with the game. The anterior cruciate ligament and collateral ligaments are designed to keep the knee structure stable so any side on tackles that twist the knee can cause damage.

 

I’ve been over the road of injury, pain, rest, rehab, treatment and prevention more than a few times so if you need any help or advise then book your free assessment with Louise at the Treatment Hub today.

 

A Free biomechanical assessments at the Treatment Hub can be booked anytime online or by phoning 01698 537 037 or by clicking here