Common footy injuries and how osteopathy helps

Footy season in the Casey and Cardinia leagues brings a predictable wave of injuries through our Berwick clinic: hamstrings in the opening rounds, ankles and shoulders through the middle of the season, and groins that have been grumbling since preseason. Most of these injuries follow well-known patterns, and how they're managed in the first week makes a real difference to how many games you miss.

Hamstring strains

The classic footy injury. Hamstrings usually go during high-speed running, often late in a quarter when fatigue sets in. The mistake most local players make is resting until it stops hurting, then going straight back to full training. Without progressive strengthening and a graded return to sprinting, re-injury rates are high, and the second strain is usually worse than the first. We assess the grade of the strain, settle the early symptoms with hands-on treatment, and build a running progression so you return when the tissue is ready, not just when it feels okay jogging.

Ankle sprains

Landing on another player's boot in a marking contest is the standard mechanism. A rolled ankle that isn't rehabilitated properly tends to become a repeat offender, because the balance and control systems around the joint stay switched off even after the swelling settles. Treatment focuses on restoring joint movement early, then rebuilding strength and single-leg balance so the ankle holds up in traffic.

Shoulder and AC joint injuries

Tackles and hard falls onto the point of the shoulder drive most footy shoulder problems, particularly AC joint sprains. These sit at the top of the shoulder and make overhead marking and tackling painful. Most AC joint injuries don't need surgery, but they do need proper grading, a short offloading period, and targeted strengthening before contact resumes. Rotator cuff strains and shoulder pain from repeated tackling respond well to the same structured approach.

Groin and hip pain

Groin pain is the one that ends seasons when it's ignored. Kicking and rapid change of direction load the adductors and the pubic joint heavily, and what starts as post-game tightness can progress to pain that won't tolerate running at all. If your groin is sore at the start of sessions and 'warms up', that's the early window where treatment is most effective. Left alone, these can become long-term problems that take months rather than weeks.

Getting back on the park

Our return-to-sport process is the same whether you play seniors at Berwick, juniors at Narre Warren, or masters at Pakenham: settle the injury, fix the deficits that caused it, then rebuild through running, skills, and contact in stages. If you've picked up a knock this season, getting it assessed in the first few days usually means fewer games missed, not more.

Book an initial consultation at RISE Sports & Spinal in Berwick. Clear diagnosis, hands-on treatment, and a plan that actually gets you better.