Had a brief catch up with a lad I know who's part of the medical set up at a champ team re his thoughts on the increase in knee injuries across football. One of the things that's being looked at is the fact most players these days are much fitter and more athletic, but carry less muscle, especially in their legs and if this is causing less stability or if the potential drop in muscle mass/strength in legs is contributing. It's definitely something that's being looked at in both the male and female game.
That’s interesting. In my mind only I would have expected less muscle mass/weight to decrease the likelihood of an ACL.
It certainly is, I don't pretend to know anything on the subject, but going to have a proper catch up with him soon anyway so will dive into it a little more with him. He did mention it's one of multiple things being looked at by them and others across the board and I imagine most the avenues will turn up nothing of note, but hopefully someone finds something that can help prevent them.
should ask him about micky van den ven, i was reading about him and he essentially is too fast for his body so he's getting 'retrained' to run properly for his body to try and prevent his injuries etc
He is too fast for his own hamstrings. It’s also how Allahyar ****ed his hamstring up a couple of years ago when playing for us against Burnley. When he returned, he was nowhere near as explosive (possibly mental for fear of tearing it again), never got a decent run in the team as more in-form players were ahead of him in the pecking order and then he left. He’s actually doing really well in Belgium now and has a decent goals and assists tally so I imagine he’s improved the technical side of his game a lot instead of relying purely on his pace when attacking. He’s always been really strong and athletic for his age as well but was incredibly raw in terms of ability.
Surely it’s a combo of this and the increased workload players are being expected of nowadays. I saw a really good interview with a current player who I can’t remember but he said in the past the game was heavily different to now. Most players are expected to run 10-12k a game. Now doing that in a vast season where you may play 50-60 games really can take its toll.
Snapped my ACL, LCL, tore my MCL and a bucket tear to my meniscus. That was nearly 3 years ago. It’s still painful today. Bloody knees!
I ruptured my ACL in my twenties, and it also pulled a section of bone out. After the bone had healed, the advice was to do physio to build the muscle up to protect the knee and ligaments, but they didn’t repair the ACL per se. Nowadays, I can’t really remember which leg it was because both knees often feel so bad. Still, I did manage to go skiing twice this year for a couple of days, two or three hours each day. But blue runs felt like reds, and reds like blacks.
Only rehab is stuff I’m doing on my own. Bits that I picked up off the physio after umpteen sessions. LCL has been the biggest issue - I think that was done by the apprentice. Grafted in a donor ligament with a few attachment points. I think they nicked a nerve on the way in as well as there’s a section around the cut that has no feeling. I can climb stairs now, which is a bonus.
Its an interesting point... I was thinking of football against Rugby and wondered why some lads in Rugby dont have serious injuries when forced to the ground with legs trapped under them and 40 stone of players on top of them. (I'm sure there are many). Maybe thats muscle mass thats preventing this to a degree. Mattazo and Barry injures were quite innocuous and thinking back, I'm not sure Belloumi and Millar were the result of getting flattened.
Nah, your quads and hamstrings and their strength directly influence the stability of the knee. I've done both my ACLs, about 10 years apart, and both times those muscles blocks were a real focus for rehab.
Its complex though Like every player cant put the same amount of muscle on One player will have more negative effects versus another etc If both out 2 kg of muscle mass into their legs For example Thats where the sports scientists come in
I’ve done ACL, MCL, LCL and Meniscus in the same knee at the same time. I think that’s why my muscles are knackered, probably why it still feels uncomfortable 3 years later.
