http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19...lubNews (Stoke City News)&utm_content=Twitter Stoke manager Tony Pulis has revealed that a problem with Matthew Etherington's jaw-line is causing the winger to suffer from a back injury. The 29-year-old is expected to be available for Wednesday's trip to Arsenal despite being substituted inside the first half of Saturday's 3-0 FA Cup win over Brighton. Etherington returned to Stoke's starting line-up after missing the defeat at Birmingham last weekend due to a hamstring complaint. But Pulis has confirmed that the wide-man is now experiencing problems because of an issue with his jaw that the club's medical staff are assessing. "He's okay - it's more his jaw-line which is affecting his back than anything else," the manager said. Cramp "He has got a defect in his jaw and we have got a specialist to do a jaw brace for him. "We are hoping the alignment will be sorted out and Matty will be all right from then on." Pulis continued: "His back will stiffen up sometimes because the alignment in his spine is just a little bit over, and apparently it has all come from his jaw-line. It amazes me. "I think a lot of people now wear them (a brace) and I think a lot of clubs get people tested. "The first thing our medical staff do is look at the back. It is so important - they look to make sure the alignment is right because that can affect hamstrings, calf muscles, cramping in the back. "Being old-fashioned, it amazes me, but if it works, let's get it done."
The game completely changed when Matty went off. When he was on I said to my lad this is going to be 5 or 6 nil today. Once Ric and Jonesy were on it was back to normal. Forwards not holding on to the ball and it kept bouncing right back at the defence to be hit out to come right back again. Pennant is brilliant but I can't understand why he doesn't run further and have a crack at goal. I know it would look selfish but there were times today he should have ran a few paces more and pulled the trigger. Carew is awesome and I've liked Walters from day one. I love this Pugh, Wilson combination at the back too as we have players that can pass the ball out of defence and also they both get forward. Is this the new Stoke ? I hope so !! More Ole football TP please ;-)
If it's true that he has a bad back, there is only 1 reason for it Carrying all that money he lost to the bookies
Thankfully i'm doing sports injuries as one of the compulsory units in my BTEC National Diploma in Sport eh Tom. Lordosis is an excessive inward curve of the lower spine. Kyphosis is the excessive arching of the upper spine. Scoliosis is a sideward bending of the spine.
Not so sure about that one Tom. I forgot to mention that training too hard for too long can also give you postural defects as your body has to compensate with the area of the injury. Hamstring injuries are a result of the lower back and hamstrings not being as flexible as they should, when you luinge for the ball and you aren't flexible you'll more that likely tear the injured muscle group at a point where you'll be injured for a sustained period. This is the big reason why many clubs employ coaches with experience in yoga and pilates.
