December Premier League Injuries Update

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As the holiday season approaches we find ourselves in one of the most exciting and fixture packed times of the year in the Premier League season, a crucial month where title challengers and relegation battlers will be defined.

Arsenal are in the inform team at the top of the Premiership and the surprise package considering the lack of activity in the summer transfer window. There are also just three points separating second place from sixth place, with a close run battle for those illustrious Champions League places. At the other end of the table Crystal Palace are not back in contention for survival having been reignited with the arrival of Tony Pulis and creating a five point gap over bottom placed Sunderland. It remains close however at the bottom with six points the difference between tenth and nineteenth place.

With an overload of fixtures in the coming weeks and the chance for many teams to define their season it can place a great deal of pressure on players and their fitness and smaller squads can really feel the impact of playing multiple times within as many days. At this time of the year we can typically expect the premier league injuries table to have a few extra entries.

Some premier league injuries are more common than others, though footballers in general are susceptible to injuries in the lower regions of the body, either with joint complaints or muscle injuries. In this article we will focus on some of the more common complaints in that of ankle injuries and hamstring injuries.

Ankle Injuries

In a game requiring players to pivot at speed on what can be wet and even surfaces the risk of ankle injuries are increased. The most common injury is a sprained ankle, where the joint rolls from either landing awkwardly or giving way when turning. This causes damage to the ligaments within the joint, which are the tough bands of tissue connecting the bones and responsibility for overall stabilisation.

In general a sprained ankle is considered a self-limiting condition as it should heal given appropriate rest, with ice a great way to help manage any inflammation. Research suggests however that it is important to still try applying some pressure to your ankle joint following injury so that the body does not lose its conditioning for weight bearing activities, but knowing your limits is important. It is said that walking in a swimming pool following ankle injuries can also help with rehabilitation as it allows you to keep moving with minimal weight bearing on the affected area.

Premier league injuries relating to the ankle currently include a number of players, including Britton of Swansea, Henderson of Liverpool and Clichy of City to name but a few. In more serious ankle injuries a player can expect to be on the sidelines for even longer and may even require surgery to repair any damaged ligaments.

Another method of enhancing your recovery from ankle injuries is to use a sports brace, offering additional protection to the affected joint when active. This can work to help manage inflammation whilst also minimising the risk of further injury from the ankle joint rolling again and causing more damage to the ligaments.

Hamstring Injuries

Hamstring injuries are common among any sports person where short bursts of sprinting are required, with footballers becoming particularly susceptible and the risk of injury increasing with age.

The hamstring is the large muscle at the back of the leg, extending from just below the buttocks to just below the knee cap and is utilised when running and jumping. An injury to this area can prevent a player from being able to run and can involve anything from a few weeks to a few months on the sidelines.

The extent of an injury ranges from a grade one tear to a grade three rupture. A grade one complaint is a mild condition which should repair itself given a couple of weeks rest. You may experience inflammation and pain in the affected area and be advised to stay clear of activities which may cause further complaints. A grade three injury is the most serious and may even require surgery to repair the muscle, with many players experiencing bruising to the muscles which can be very noticeable.

Ice and rest are some of the best ways to help manage a hamstring injury, but compression shorts can also be used to help you when you are active. They are designed to offer compression to the affected areas and maintain muscle alignment by minimising unnatural vibrations, thereby enhancing performance.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes premier league injuries are unavoidable and it is important to not dwell on the injury itself but on your recovery to ensure that you come back faster and stronger than before. Whilst the majority of sports injuries are self-limiting and you should expect to see an improvement within a few days, should this fail then it is advisable to speak with a doctor for a professional diagnosis.

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