When football is a pain in the toe
Serious injury is common in football (in any sport for that matter) - from broken bones and torn ligaments to ingrowing toenails. Yes, you read that last one correctly!
An ingrowing toenail may seem minor compared to soft tissue damage or a sprained ankle but in reality, it can be just as painful and is likely to keep you off the park until it’s treated.
An ingrowing toenail develops when the sides of the nail grown into the skin that surrounds it, piercing the skin. It can quickly become red, swollen, and very tender. If it’s left untreated, your ingrown toenail can become infected.
By its very nature, football puts a lot of stress on your feet and the more you play, the higher the stress.
The podiatrists at Five Little Piggies have put together a list of top tips for healthy footballing feet.
1. Don’t sweat it
Its common sense that to prevent bacterial, fungal or viral infections, good foot hygiene has to be top of the list.
* Wash and thoroughly dry your feet (especially between the toes) every day with a mild soap. *
* Wear clean socks and change them daily, at the very least. *
* Keep your training shoes and football boots clean inside, and out. *
* Rotate your football boots if possible – don’t wear the same pair two days in a row to give them time to dry out. *
2. Get flexible
If you’ve got a teenage rising star on the pitch, it’s important they adopt a stretching programme - it’s not only good for posture but will help them with their range of motion at all joints and could prevent injury. If your teen Ronaldo is suffering from heel pain it could be because he’s not stretched off his hamstrings or calves properly…
3. Get on your [football] boots
Your football boots should be well-fitting. How do you tell? One sure fire way is to check your feet after a game or training – are there any signs of pressure from the boot on your foot? Football boots that are too tight are a leading cause of ingrown toenails – combined with the repeated impact on your foot from kicking the ball, tight boots spells trouble ahead.
4. Nail it
Badly cut toenails are another leading cause of ingrown toenails so don’t be so slap-dash about getting this job done.
Trim toenails by cutting them straight across, not on a curve. We recommend you do this regularly or come in and see us for a Simple Nail Cut if you’re in any doubt about how to do it.
5. See an expert
When it comes to your foot health, paying a visit to a qualified podiatrist, like those of us at Five Little Piggies, can be invaluable. Football puts so much pressure on your feet and regular visits mean that ingrowing toenails (not to mention any other foot anomalies) can be spotted and treated before they become an issue and keep you from your game.
Clare Dunne and her team of podiatrists love looking after feet! If you're suffering from painful toes or sore feet, find them in Rutherglen, Glasgow and online at www.fivelittlepiggies.co.uk.