There are many foot injuries which football players develop as a result of overuse, pounding pressure, wet conditions and friction on the foot. We look at what you can do to look after the most important part of the body when it comes to football - the feet!

Football Foot Stress

Football puts a lot of stress on the feet due to the nature of the game. Sharp turns, quickly stopping and starting, often on hard or un-even surfaces, or in conditions which leave the foot soaking wet for 90 minutes.

In a typical match, footballers run for around 10 kilometres at fairly modest speeds, they sprint for about 1,000 metres, accelerate 50 different times, and change direction every five seconds or so. When running, a footballer’s body weight can be multiplied by up to 5 times, with the feet bearing the majority of this stress.

Many footballers wear football boots which are normally tight around the foot, often a size too small and modern football boots are more frequently made of synthetic materials which are less breathable than leather.

So we know that our poor feet get a hard time of it, but hey, we footballers are tough, what the heck…. Well, no. Who wants to be watching their team from the touchline due to a foot infection? Or who wants a long term issue with corns, or ingrown toenails?

Symptoms

Tight football boots can chafe the skin and cause blisters which are not only painful and can put you on the injury list, they can also lead to infections which can cause many other issues.

Football boots which are synthetic and don’t allow the foot to breath, can lead to the growth and multiplication of odour-causing bacteria.

When your feet are subjected to pounding pressure caused by differing surfaces, the skin starts to dry out. If left untreated, it will crack and peel. Tiny fissures can develop that may even begin to bleed!

Preventative Measures

So much time and money is spent on deciding what football boots to buy and wear, but then the feet that go inside those football boots are neglected.

Foot Hygiene

Hot sweaty feet are part and parcel of football, so good foot hygiene is important in avoiding conditions such as Athletes Foot. Wash your feet regularly and dry them thoroughly.

Foot Conditioner has been developed to repair the damage that football inflicts on the feet. It helps revitalise your feet so they feel supple and responsive. It’s absorbed quickly and leaves no greasy residue so it starts working immediately and is easy to apply. At Footy Boots HQ we’ve used Zuku conditioner and have found it has worked well for our feet!

Wear the right socks

Studies have shown the importance of socks in preventing football injuries. There are socks available now that let the foot breath better in the football boot and prevent water from absorbing through the sock onto your foot.

Wear the right football boot

Get the right sized football boot. Some football boots have a wide fit, other a slim fit, read up on the football boot before buying it.

Get the right football boot for the surface you are playing on. That may mean more than one pair of football boots a season, but its worth it.

Look at the material. Some upper materials do not allow the foot to breath, which as we know can cause problems. Consider the materials available within your budget and ask your team mates for their recommendations.

Footy Boots reviews the leading football boots and is an ideal source of reference to learn more about football boots.

Related pages - Football Boot Care