Niggles matter – Why Ignoring Minor Discomfort Can Increase Your Risk of Injury

Soccer injuries, soccer training, knee injuries, hip injuries, football

Football is a high-intensity sport that places constant physical demands on players. While many athletes push through minor aches and pains (“niggles”), new research suggests that these small complaints significantly increase the risk of a serious injury within the following week.

At The Physio Crew, we specialise in football injury prevention and rehabilitation in Tullamarine and Carlton, helping semi-professional and amateur footballers stay strong, agile, and injury-free. We are proud to be affiliated with Keilor Park Soccer Club and Upfield Soccer Club.

If you’re a footballer experiencing persistent muscle soreness, knee discomfort, or tight hamstrings, addressing these issues early could save you weeks or months of time lost due to injury.

A recent study examined 218 semi-professional footballers. Players were required to self-report physical complaints (such as soreness, tightness, or discomfort) via a questionnaire.

Key Findings:
  1. Footballers who reported a physical complaint had a 2.8 to 5.9 times higher risk of injury in the following week.
  2. Self-reported injuries were much higher than officially recorded time-loss injuries, raising concerns about whether current injury tracking in football is effective.
  3. 90% of hamstring injuries had a warning sign (a non-time loss complaint in the same area) before they became serious.

What Does This Mean for You?

  • Muscle tightness, soreness, or mild pain is often a precursor to injury.
  • Ignoring these niggles can lead to hamstring tears, ACL injuries, and long-term issues.
  • Early intervention with physiotherapy can dramatically reduce injury risk.

I will write a follow up blog on common Football injuries and how Physiotherapy Helps reduce risk of soccer injuries.

Football pre-season is well and truly here and most football teams in Carlton and Tullamarine are gearing up for practice games and the start of the season. If you are experiencing muscle tightness, hamstring pain, general soreness or niggles please book in with one of our expert physiotherapist to assist you in reducing risk of injury and playing the full season.

Tullamarine – 1/191 Melrose Drive, Tullamarine – 9116 8691
Carlton – 2/221 Drummond Steet, Carlton – 9116 8693

TPC

How Physical Therapists Structure Injury Prevention Programs

Sports Physiotherapist Sports Physiotherapy

A recent international survey of sports physical therapists, provides insight into how injury prevention programs are designed and implemented. Physical Therapists play a critical role in preventing sports injuries, yet there is no universal approach to creating effective Injury prevention programs.

Key Findings:

  • Best Practices Followed: Most Physical therapist consult scientific literature and collaborate with performance teams, including coaches and physicians, to create multifaceted injury prevention programs addressing modifiable risk factors to the athlete.
  • Custom Approaches Vary: Around 52% of physical therapists tailor injury prevention programs to individual athletes, while others create subgroup-specific or generic programs such as plyometric programs or hamstring strengthening etc.
  • Prevention Methods: Injury prevention programs created by physical therapists commonly focus on components like load management, recovery, warm-ups, and sleep. However, not all components are consistently implemented.

Challenges: The biggest barriers to effective injury prevention program implementation is a lack of time in athletes’ schedules, along with limited support from athletes and coaches.

Takeaway for Physiotherapists: Despite variability in methods, Physical therapists are actively using evidence-based strategies to prevent injuries. A balanced approach, combining generic and individualised exercises, could be the key to fitting injury prevention programs into athletes’ schedules and maximising effectiveness.

At The Physio Crew our Physical Therapists use the latest research to address patient strengths, weaknesses and barriers to create effective injury prevention program that they can easily implement. To create your injury prevention program, book an appointment with one of our physical therapists on 9116 8691.