Month: May 2019

Addressing potential barriers for footballers seeking care for mental health symptoms

29 May 2019 1 comment

This FastFact highlights the recently published International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on the mental health of athletes1. While this comprehensive review gives an overview of the issues relating to the mental health of elite athletes, this FastFact investigates some of the barriers to footballers seeking help when problems arise. Mental health symptoms are often [...]

Bipartate patella

28 May 2019 1 comment

Case A 25-year-old football player was referred to see you with a suspected ‘patella fracture’. He describes a twisting injury on his planted right leg followed by a pop sensation and near immediate pain and swelling in his right knee. He was seen at a local emergency clinic and was told he had fractured his [...]

Medial Malleolus Fracture

22 May 2019 1 comment

Case A 48-year-old female spectator presents four weeks after “twisting” her right ankle walking to a game. She described localised medial ankle pain and difficult weight bearing. She was seen at an emergency department where an x-ray was said to be normal. As she was still unable to weight-bear two weeks later her family doctor [...]

Osteochondral injury

15 May 2019 3 comments

Case This 17 year old elite footballer presents with recurrent locking symptoms in his left knee. He has had mild intermittent discomfort in his knee for some time, but over the last month or so has developed recurrent locking. His presentation was provoked by an episode where his knee “jammed out straight” while he was [...]

Heat breaks reduce thermal stress

15 May 2019 8 comments

This laboratory based study has shown that simple strategies (including heat breaks, cold water and the use of ice towels) can reduce heat stress in trained football players. These are very practical and can be incorporated into a football match – even when games are played in the most remote or basic conditions. Football is [...]

$Tibia fracture$

Tibia fracture

10 May 2019 1 comment

Case A 23-year-old recreational player presented with lower leg pain after a heavy tackle. He described being kicked in the lower leg and experiencing immediate pain. He was however able to get up and limp off. He was seen at a local emergency department where he was diagnosed with a contusion. Three weeks later he [...]

Taping, bracing and exercise can all help prevent ankle sprains

03 May 2019 15 comments

This FastFact showcases a clinical guideline which explores the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of lateral ankle sprains. It was created by a multi-disciplinary team of experts and is evidence-based1. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in football. They can have significant morbidity and can be associated with recurring instability. One of the stated [...]

L3 Radiculopathy

02 May 2019 1 comment

Case A 48-year-old male football coach presents with a four-month history of right sided buttock, hip and anterior thigh pain. It had not improved despite rest and physiotherapy treatment. He was found to have a positive femoral nerve stretch test, 4+/5 weakness of right hip flexion and knee extension and an absent patellar jerk. Findings [...]

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