As world cup fever continues to rise with the quarter-finals a few days away, one of which constitutes England vs France, Alan Nevies and his colleagues at northlondonosteopaths would like to endorse the sentiments expressed in Dr James Le Fanu’s article in the Daily Telegraph 5/12/22. Titled “The Sole of the beautiful game” it sings the praises of the humble foot. For all its position at the foot (not bottom) of the human body, the lowest extremity, it is none the less “a bio-mechanical marvel”. In a relatively compact area it contains 20 bones, 30 joints and 100 muscles. It is able to provide both stability and flexibility, which has been on spectacular display in Qatar over the past weeks. The stability part of the equation is supplied by an arch that reaches from the heel to the little toe, which takes the force of weight bearing. The flexibility comes from the big toe which “acts as a lever: an elastic, mobile, dynamic organ of propulsion”.

However even bio-mechanical marvels can feel far less than marvellous when they are subjected to the strains and stresses of world class professional football. The need to change direction suddenly and the repetitive impact of the ball may cause Turf Toe pain which means tenderness and swelling in the main joint of the big toe and sometimes progresses to stiffness and immobility.

Alan Nevies and his colleagues at northlondonosteopaths are more than happy to advise and help professional sportsmen and amateurs alike for pre match advice and training and post match injury.

May the best team win!