‘Prevention better than cure’

FOOTBALL IS one of the most popular sports in the world, with an estimated global participation of more than 300 million. It is also one of the most popular sports in Jamaica. It’s one of the most-watched sports, whether in-person or on television, and it’s no secret that, during the FIFA World Cup tournament, the streets are empty, productivity at work declines, and even the crime rate declines because all eyes are on the matches being played.

There are many other outlets for competition locally, with grassroots leagues starting from as early as Under-7. Hundreds of children enrol each year in football programmes, whether within schools or in football clubs or academies. A large portion of people who play football in Jamaica simply enjoy playing scrimmage games with their friends for the fun of it, whether on the street, playing field, grass turf fields, or on the courts at school or in the community.

As beloved as the sport is, it is not without its risk of injuries. Right across the board, from grassroots to the national squad, injuries have plagued our footballers. By its very nature, football is a contact sport. As such, those who engage in the sport are prone to both contact and non-contact injuries, whether in training or in competition.

Injuries can range from minor, where performance is hampered but no playing time is lost, to debilitating, where playing time is lost.

Lower body injuries are commonly seen, such as knee and ankle joint injuries, fractures, and thigh contusions. Upper body injuries such as concussions and wrist joint injuries are also possible. The most common, potentially serious injuries include concussion and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage. The increased involvement of young children and adolescents in organised sports and competitions increases the risk of these injuries.

The younger population of football players is at increased risk of injury because of their immature coordination, skills, and perception.

Other factors include the type of playing surface, footwear, and level of competition.

In Jamaica, we have very few ideal playing surfaces, especially in schools. This could primarily be because of the high cost associated with obtaining and maintaining such fields.

QUALITY OF FOOTWEAR

Not everyone who plays sport has access to the proper footwear to ensure adequate traction and shock absorption. Better-quality shoes tend to be on the more expensive side and out of budget for many people.

While it is not easy to address some of the risk factors because of the associated costs, others can be mitigated effectively and affordably. These include immature coordination, skills, and perception.

The solution lies in the utilisation of nerve-muscle training programmes. Given this reality, several injury prevention programmes, such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ Kids and the Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) programme, have been developed. These programmes entail strength, balance, plyometric exercises, and nerve-muscle training.

Multiple studies have shown their efficacy in injury prevention. However, little is known about the penetration and utilisation of injury prevention programmes such as these within the Jamaican youth football setting. Given the vast number of youths involved in football across the island and the injury risks associated with this, it should be commonplace for injury prevention programmes to be implemented.

It is important to mitigate the risk of injury in children, as it could mean longevity in participating in physical activity, which could result in decreased levels of obesity and developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. Injury prevention programmes will also reduce the chances of developing long-term complications, should a major injury occur. An example of this would be lower risk of early osteoarthritis following a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.

Fewer children with injuries visiting the emergency departments of the major hospitals in Jamaica means fewer resources going towards treating said injuries, which would ease some of the economic burdens. More children being able to grow up injury-free could lead to more adolescents and adults playing football at a high level. This could bolster Jamaica’s national football programmes. Being able to play at a high level for a long period of time could improve a player’s chances of obtaining a scholarship to further their education or a contract to play for an overseas club.

As organisations work on finding funds to improve the standard of playing fields, they should also simultaneously be looking to implement policies related to integration of injury intervention programmes into the training repertoire.

Both the FIFA 11+ Kids and PEP programmes are easy to conduct, and every football coach should seek to educate themselves and make these an integral part of their football programme, if they are not already doing so. Prevention is definitely a better option than cure.

Dr Hoshane White is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sports medicine at the Faculty of Sport, UWI and can be contacted at hoshanewhite@gmail.com or hoshane.white@mymona.uwi.edu

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