Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Are Boots To Blame For England Football Injuries?

The current question among England football fans after star player, Wayne Rooney, broke the fourth metatarsal bone on his right foot, is whether the boots are to blame for the number of injuries experienced by English footballers.

If Rooney makes a swift recovery he may be able to play in some of the World Cup matches. Whether he will be fighting fit is doubtful.

Rooney was wearing Nike Total 90 Supremacy boots. He wore them for the first time on the day he had the injury. Nike denies its boots are linked to a higher risk of injury.

Tom Docherty, who used to manage Manchester United, Rooney's current team, said to the Manchester Evening news that his wife, a physiotherapist, thinks the boots are to blame.

Docherty said that when he was a professional football player in the 1950s it used to take six weeks to break a pair of boots in. Players used to have to put them in a bucket of water. He added that balls are much lighter now and the pitches are in much better condition. Docherty believes the modern boot does not support the foot properly.

Rooney broke a metatarsal in 2004. David Beckham, Gary Neville and Roy Keane have all suffered a broken metatarsal.

When football pitches were not so good in the 70s and 80s hernias were the most common injuries.

Some ex-footballers say modern boots are like slippers.

Tony Book, an ex-professional footballer, told the Manchester Evening News he believes the name of the injury has changed. He believes the old ‘broken toe' injury is now reported as ‘fractured/broken metatarsal'.

Others say it is the media attention, or the faster pace of modern football.

The most common comments made by England fans and commentators are:

1. The boots.
2. Players are not getting enough rest.

There Are 5 Metatarsal Bones (in the foot)

-- The First Metatarsal Bone
Os metatarsale I; metatarsal bone of the great toe
The thickest and shortest one.

-- The Second Metatarsal Bone
Os metatarsale II
The longest one
David Beckham's injury in 2002

-- The third metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale III

-- The fourth metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale IV
Wayne Rooney's current injury

-- The fifth metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale V
Wayne Rooney's injury in 2004

Click Here To See Illustrations - Wikipedia

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

Monday, April 10, 2006

Did you Know? There are more than 300 types of foot ailments


There are more than 300 types of foot ailment, with some resulting from genetic factors. However, for the elderly, most such ailments are caused by habitual neglect or accumulated damage. With just a little effort, people can avoid much harm. But if you are in pain, be sure to get medical treatment without delay.

Monday, March 27, 2006

What is Cyro Surgery?


Cryosurgery is the specialized field of using extremely low temperatures to destroy pathological tissues. Cryosurgery is not a new concept in the elimination of pain. Hippocrates recognized the analgesic and anti inflammatory properties of ice on injuries in the year 430BC.

In the past few decades, cryo-technology has been used in the treatment of malignant tumors of the prostrate, liver and other organs. Moreover, cryosurgery is gaining acceptance in dermatology, plastic surgery, urology, pain management and podiatry.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

WHAT ARE THE BEST ORTHOTICS FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS?


Plantar fasciitis (heel spur syndrome) is a common foot problem in athletes and accounts for approximately 7 percent of the injuries to the lower extremity. With each running step, the athlete subjects the plantar fascia to tremendous cyclic loading. In some athletes, this produces a mechanical irritation to the plantar fascia, resulting in an inflammatory response and pain.
The irritation is the result of biomechanical deformities such as limb length discrepancy, gastrocsoleus equinus, and excessive foot or leg varus, producing midtarsal and subtalar hyperpronation. In turn, this pronation produces a stretch of the plantar fascia as well as unwanted pulling on the origin of the fascia (the medial calcaneal tubercle).

FOOT PUSH UP TEST


Take this simple test to check how well your arches are performing their important functions.

1: In bare feet, stand facing a kitchen counter.
2: Place your palms on the counter with slight pressure.
3: Stand with your back straight, and lift one foot off the floor.
4: Slowly lift the heel of other foot, placing all of your weight onto the ball of your foot.
5: Slowly lower your heel back to the floor.
6: Do 10 foot push-ups.

Repeat steps 1 - 6 with the other foot.