Premier League Injuries Update

The Premier League is well underway and six games in its still everyone's game, though there are still a few surprises in the mix with Liverpool sitting second and Manchester United residing in 12th place after their worst start for years. We have also seen some great action both on and off the field, most notably the fallout in the North East leading to the departure of the fiery tempered Italian Di Canio.

As we are only in October however there is still a long way to go and time for things to turn around, though many clubs will already be starting to panic and wonder whether installing a new manager can offer a change of fortunes on the pitch, with Fulham rumoured to be in the market.

Whilst we are still in the early days of the competition we have still seen some high profile premier league injuries, the most recent being Fernando Torres who requires a scan on his knee following the win in at Steaua Bucharest. The club remains hopeful that it is not as serious as his team mate's injury, with Marco Van Ginkel out for 6 months with an ACL injury, one of the more serious premier league injuries encountered.

Types of Premier League Injuries

Football injuries can happen to both amateurs and professionals, with the latter being more susceptible due to the fact their bodies are tuned for the profession and the slightest strain can have a major impact on their fitness levels and performance.

Injuries relating to football range in their severity and can affect almost every area of the body, from muscle strains and tears to joint complaints. During a match a player puts their body through an immense amount of pressure, through sprinting, stopping quickly and turning at speed, all of which can lead to football injuries.

Knee Injuries

Following on from the knee injuries currently plaguing Chelsea, let's look at some of the more common knee football injuries, what they involve and the recovery periods involved.

The majority of football injuries in general are as a result of overuse, with that extra push for the ball sometimes leading to injury, but with so much at stake players will continually put themselves at risk for the good of their team.

A simple strain in the knee is self-limiting and will get better with rest and light exercise. Ice is a great way of managing the pain and also any inflammation to allow a greater amount of movement. From a football injuries perspective you can expect to miss a game as you recover before getting back into training and regaining your full fitness.

In considering the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury sustained by Van Ginkel, this is one of the most serious forms of football injuries which can occur. 40% of all ACL injuries occur as a result of high impact sports such as snowboarding and motocross, but premier league injuries sometimes include ACL injuries from bad challenges, falling awkwardly or over rotating the knee joint. The ACL is responsible for stabilisation of the knee, with any serious damage preventing a person from running, let alone walking.

The severity of your ACL injury will determine the length of time you are out of action, with some players requiring a year on the sidelines should surgery be required. Surgery will also require an extended period of intensive physiotherapy to build strength to the joint once again before a player can even consider getting back to full training.

Avoiding Football Injuries

Sometimes football injuries are unavoidable and the premier league injuries list shows this, with an array of injuries and recovery times. Whilst you can do everything you can to train for a match and be prepared, a bad challenge, slipping on the pitch or getting your foot caught in a divot whilst turning can all lead to football injuries.

The one thing players must do, amateurs and professionals alike, is to stop once they believe they have suffered an injury. Continuing to play at any high active sport with an injury can cause more damage and lead to an even longer spell on the sidelines, not to mention becoming a liability to the team if you are unable to make a challenge or track back following a counter attack.

The one benefit for players suffering from football injuries is the medical teams in place at clubs, offering a quick diagnosis and an intensive and tailored recovery plan to suit the player's needs, ensuring they are back in action as fast as possible.

As the season continues the list of premier league injuries will continue to grow, as can be expected in a competitive contact sport. Injuries can sometimes be the difference between success and failure and with so much at stake for clubs financially it is in their best interests to have a fully fit squad who are ready for action.