Soccer can be a rough sport, especially as we get older and still want to play just as hard. Don’t let your favourite sport cause pain that stems into daily life. Read below to find out how you can keep those knees feeling young all throughout your day and into the second half of the game.
No matter how old we are, soccer is a complex sport for our bodies. It involves running constantly, jumping, and quick changes in motion. All these activities can exert a large amount of stress on your knees. Often these repetitive movements can lead to injuries such as;
- Ligament sprains
- Meniscus tears
- Patellar tendonitis
- Fractures
And sometimes there are injuries from collisions with other players and falls that could further complicate knee pain. Paying attention to your knees before injuries occur is crucial to keeping them healthy well into your years as a soccer player.
What Can You Do?
Listen to your body and seek out help. It sounds simple but it is the toughest thing to do. It is not always wise to push through the pain especially as you get older as this could lead to a much more serious injury further down the road. There are many different health care professionals that can help deal with knee pain. Look at finding a physiotherapist to help work through a muscular injury, a Pedorthist to find your feet or knees the perfect support or even a great Massage Therapist to keep your body moving well. Building a team of professionals to help you when injuries and pain hit is important at keeping you active.
Knee Bracing
If you are currently experiencing knee pain, whether caused by soccer or not, knee bracing can be a great solution. Knee bracing’s primary goals are to give the knee stability, take the pressure off and get you feeling more confident in each step. Most times this is done with a compression style brace but with knee bracing, there are many different types and styles available. The type of brace you require largely depends on how complex the knee injury is and what type of pain present in the knee.
Orthotics
With the repetitive actions that come with playing soccer, comes repetitive impacts. One great way to lessen the impact your feet take on is with orthotics. Orthotics work to make your feet more efficient at managing the stress your feet take and help to correct biomechanical abnormalities. This becomes increasingly more important as your day, or game, plays on. There are plenty of over the counter and custom orthotics options that fit into soccer cleats.
Footwear
While the feet may seem far away from the knees, great footwear can make a great difference when managing knee pain. Seeking out a more stable, cushioned shoe for daily use can help to aid the lower limb in shock absorption and even aid in controlling abnormal lower limb movement. No matter what size or shape your foot is, at BioPed, there is always a solution!
Come See Us!
Knee pain can be aggravating. If knee pain is stopping you from playing in the next game or lingering around while you’re working, please book an appointment with us today! At BioPed Footcare, whether its bracing, orthotics, or footwear we are here for you. With our on-site lab there is nothing we can’t do! Meet with one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians to see how you can keep your feet and knees healthy!
