Preventing Soccer Injuries with Effective
Insoles and Smart Shoe Selection
"Finding cleats with the correct traction and fit
is the first step in preventing acute injuries on
the field."
is to short or too long will be
uncomfortable to the player. Insist
that the orthotic is tried in the shoes
before the player makes their choice.
Consider metatarsal support
Many types of metatarsalgia
can be relieved with met
pads. Some insole brands
come with met pads
built in, some take a
modular approach
with removeable met
pads, and others come without met pads. In
either case, make sure that the front edge of
the met pad sits just behind the met heads (ball
of the foot). Met pads should never be directly
beneath the met heads, as this will cause more
irritation.
Once you’ve found the winning combination
of cleat and orthotic for your client one area
of injury prevention that is often overlooked
is to equalize the training of the hamstrings
and the quadriceps. Running primarily works
the hamstrings, so to keep the knee, strong
and injury free, the athlete should make time
for exercises such as lunges, leg presses, or a
personal favorite - box jumps. Lastly, remind
them to properly warm up, cool down and
stretch after practice, training and games to
help continually prevent injury and tightness.
And, most importantly, they should get out on
the field and have fun!
Current Pedorthics | May/June 2018
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