Hip Injuries and football Retirement

It sounds pathetic to say it out loud but retiring from football before I was 30 wasn’t ever really on my bingo card but unfortunately it’s looking very likely

I absolutely live and breathe football, always have always will. Ask anyone, especially Sophie if you want an honest opinion.

Football Saturdays were the highlight of my week.

I’d be working super hard in the gym to be fit and strong all to play football on a Saturday afternoon, albeit at a relatively good standard of local football.

The hawkenbury boys of the 23/24 and 24/25 seasons will never be forgotten (according to me) for their triumphant treble and double winning seasons.

Back to back league titles, back to back cups and a total of 5 trophies in two years isn’t bad going but unfortunately for me, it’s all coming to an end.

Having been to see a very good, very reliable friend of mine who works at a high level local rugby club and a local physiotherapist centre, we managed to get to the bottom of the hip issues I’ve been having.

FAI has entered the chat…

“Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), also known as hip impingement, occurs when the hip joint's bones rub against each other due to abnormal shapes. This friction can damage the hip's cartilage and labrum, a shock-absorbing tissue ring. FAI is a common cause of hip and groin pain, especially for people aged 20–45. Causes: FAI is often caused by a bone spur in the acetabulum or femur, or an abnormally shaped femoral neck”

So what can be done?

Well first and foremost, I missed a lot of games last year, I was sidelined for 6 or 7 weeks, featuring in the season defining games towards the end but suffering intense pain throughout.

Resting has been key.

Truth be told I probably didn’t even need to be out there, the boys were firmly in control of the season, batting away a few teams who got far too big for their boots, assuming they could come along and smash our division.

Low and behold, they didn’t and they’ve decided to drop in standard and do the lower level county leagues for a couple of years.

However, resting on its own just isn’t enough. Not when you’re as active as I am.

Strength training

Getting some real, dedicated strength training back into the joints and following a very tailored and specific plan is key to rehabilitating any injury. Increasing a joint or muscles ability to deal with the stresses of what you’re putting it through on a daily or weekly basis is the best medicine.

Gone are the days where resting and leaving a joint alone to do its thing. You need to get it stronger. In my years of experience as a coach and a PT, most people that are suffering with tightness, painful joints or general aches and pains can deal with said issues, by getting that specific area of the body stronger. That is of course, if there aren’t any other external or internal factors coming in to play and you’re otherwise fit and healthy.

Pain management

Don’t be a hero basically. Sometimes you’ve got to listen to your body and listen good. If it hurts, you’ve got to chill out a bit and bring the intensity or duration down of what you’re doing.

My journey with the hip isn’t over and day by day and week by week it is getting better and stronger.

If you’ve got a long term injury that you want to fix and you’re wondering wether or not you should be doing something about it, this is your sign to get started