The osteopathic approach is very well suited o the treatment of footballers.Injuries occurr for many reasons.
The unpredictability of what other players might do, the stop-start nature of the game, the rapidly applied multi-directional high loads
that are inflicted on the body and, the fact that football requires it's participants to use their bodies in extremely unergonomic ways,
mean that footballers are inevitably prone to all sorts of musculo-skeletal injuries.
Osteopathy concentrates on the treatment of compromised body mechanics, function and posture. A detailed knowledge
and understanding of the structure and function of the human musculo-skeletal system enables the Osteopath to identify problems which have occurred
because of injury or mechanical stress and to treat both the syptoms and, more importantly, the underlying causes. This also enable the body to
heal itself, thus enhancing performance and minimising the likeliehood of recurrence. Whole body considerations are integral to the Osteopath's approach.
Many patients present with similar injuries. Most common are due to spending many hours seated, either driving, working and resting.
This all leads to altered posture, shortened hamstrings, weakened abdominal muscles and restricted spinal joints.
Common Problems that may suggest visiting an Osteopath.
• Persistent Hamstring or Calf strains
• Low back pain after games
• Injuries that do not go away
• Recurring Achilles problems
• Constant knee problems
Typical Case History
A footballer had been suffering from recurrent hamstring problems. He had had many other treatment, yet the problems persisted.
After a whole body "Osteopathic" assessment had been done it transpired that the nerve supply to the hamstrings was being compromised.
This was due to a leg length difference which led to the patient constantly bending that particular knee. Due to a lack of rotation function
in the Thoraco-lumbar vertebrae, each time the patient took extra long strides when playing football there was little or no compensation.
Thus, the particular hamstrings overstretched regularly.
How did Osteopathy help?
One of the particular skills of the Osteopath is the ability to assess and address the underlying causes of a
musckulo-skeletal problem. The treatment of complex non-resolving and recurrent injuries is especially suited to the Osteopathic approach.
Assessing the interaction between the different tissues that determine a body's structure enables an Osteopath to
anticipate potential problems and provide treatment to prevent injuries which that player's individual development and mechanics has
predisposed them towards.
