View From The Treatment Room at Hednesford Town FC

Foot care is an important aspect for a football player. After all they are the `tools of their trade`. Any minor injury or a small ailment can still effect the concentration of the player. I will now try and show and suggest that the incidence of injuries and aliments can be reduced and avoidable injury prevented.

Blisters are a `plague` to a player especially when they wear new boots and/ or play in hot weather. Even more so during pre-season training.  If the player wears cotton rich socks as well as the usual nylon socks, they can reduce the friction against the skin.  The socks will rub against each other.  If a blister does still occur then a very good product called `Compeed` can help. It can be bought over the counter of a Pharmacy. It acts as a `second skin` and can be placed over the raw tissue when the blister is broken. New boots should be gradually `broken in` before the old boots eventually fall apart. Soaked in warm water to soften and with the use of a shoe stretcher can help to mould the boot to the foot. With the softer materials available now like kangaroo skin there is less likely to be incidents to blister.

Fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and verrucas are a common irritant and can be sore when stood on.  They are infectious. As a preventative measure, I would advise `flip flops` to be worn by all in dressing and shower rooms especially at swimming baths. Feet should always be dry to avoid these infections. Ironically many soldiers fighting in the First World War suffered from foot problems. Trench foot was the main infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary conditions. In the trenches men stood for hours on end in waterlogged trenches without being able to remove wet socks or boots. The feet would gradually go numb and the skin would turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. Trench foot was a particular problem in the early stages of the war. For example, during the winter of 1914-15 over 20,000 men in the British Army were treated for trench foot.

Something as seemingly insignificant as the cutting of toe nails can reduce problems especially when it is done regulary and correctly. Poorly cut nails can lead to players missing games for in growing toe-nails. In this instance cut the nail square across the top and file the edges and corners.

A bruised toe nail occurs when a player is `studded`. It is very painful. The best way to relief this is to use a sterile sharp pin. Drill through the nail to release the blood to gain relief from the pressure that built up under the nail. Cover up with plaster to avoid infection. This will save the nail from dying and falling off. It takes months for the new nail to grow back.