Every team wants a competitive advantage. Injury prevention in sport is a growing area of study. So do ‘niggles’ really lead to serious injuries that keep players off the field? That is the question answered by a new study by Whalan et al.
This study found that football players with mild to moderate physical complaints (niggles) were 3.6 to 6.9 times more likely to become injured in just seven days. These injuries resulted in missed training sessions or sports games in the following seven days.⠀
The study also found that each week a quarter of players complained of discomfort that did not lead to an injury that stopped them playing.
In total, 68% of all injuries in the study group were preceded by niggles. That percentage is even higher in the lower limb with 94% of knee & 90% of hamstring injuries preceded by a niggle.⠀
This study demonstrates the importance of paying attention to your body. Training hard and winning games is dependent on sports injury prevention. So remember to look after yourself so you can stay fit to train and play.
Scott Leabeater is The Backstory Chiropractic’s Principal Chiropractor. Scott uses up to date research literature to guide an evidence based approach to diagnosis and treatment. His unique professionalism and knowledge has made Scott highly sought after. Throughout his career he has treated everyone from local office workers to Olympic athletes. Scott is an AHPRA registered Chiropractor and member of Chiropractic Australia.