Netball as we all know it is a very popular sport in Australia, played by both women & men. It is a game that calls for fast movements, lots of jumping and throwing and quick changes in direction. As a result, injuries of the foot and knee are very common. Being physically fit is not enough. Netball players should practice good jumping and landing techniques as well as warming up thoroughly and cooling down after each game to help prevent injury associated with this sport. Consulting with a chiropractor can help you prevent a lot of netball injuries.
Consulting your Chiropractor before the netball season starts is the best medicine to prevent netball injuries & as part of this consultation your chiropractor will:
• Conduct a thorough exam & history to identify any areas of weakness or misalignment in your spine, pelvis & joints of the lower limb.
• X-Rays are commonly taken to further assess the bony alignment & structure.
• Digital posture photos may also be taken.
Your chiropractor will then be well equipped to address those weak & misaligned areas to ensure you start the season in the best shape possible.
Some common netball injuries may still occur & below are the most common ones:
Ankle sprains
Jumping, running and sudden changes in direction make ankle sprains a common netball injury. Pain, swelling and some bruising may be evident, as well as difficulty bearing weight on the sprained ankle. The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) works well. Wearing a protective ankle brace or having the ankle strapped by your chiropractor can be very helpful and it is also very important to perform specific proprioceptive (balance) exercises to prevent the ankle from being re-injured.
Patellar tendinopathy or “Jumper’s Knee”
This is inflammation of the patellar tendon that attaches the muscles at the front of the leg (the quadriceps) to the shinbone. It helps to straighten the knee. Constant jumping and landing as in netball can lead to patellar tendon pain and tenderness in the knee which continues at rest and during play and is aggravated by trying to straighten the knee. Squatting and kneeling may also be difficult. Treatment consists of the RICE protocol and chiropractic treatment.
Shin pain
Shin injuries can be caused by repetitive stress on the shins that manifest with pain and tenderness particularly on the inside of the shin bone. Initially, shin pain may be felt during a game of netball but later continues throughout the day. Shin pain can be chronic and can thus sideline an athlete for a long time. A thorough assessment of foot posture and netball techniques is crucial to determine the cause of shin pain and determine the type of chiropractic treatment & rehabilitation necessary before you can return to netball.
Achilles tendinopathy
This is a common, painful condition experienced by netballers who place a lot of traction force on the tendon. It is characterised by pain at the back of the heel which increases with exercise and decreases when the exercise stops. The best treatment for Achilles tendinopathy is to apply RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). Chiropractic treatment & rehabilitation will then be necessary to stretch and strengthen the calf muscles and prevent re-injury.