Injury prevention and performance improvement

Football is the most widely played sport in the world, with over 270 million players, including 30 million women — that’s around 4% of the global population!

Although it originated in ancient times, modern football emerged in the 19th century with the creation of professional leagues in the United Kingdom.

As the world’s most popular sport, it captivates millions of fans — the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar drew over one billion viewers. Players such as Messi, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Haaland, Mbappé, and Vinicius inspire new generations of athletes.

However, behind the excitement and passion lies significant physical demand. During a 90-minute match, a player can cover between 6 and 11 km and lose up to 2 kg in fluids. Therefore, prevention and recovery are essential to maintain balance and avoid injuries.

Football challenges every part of the body. While technical skills are key, contact, falls, and sudden direction changes make injuries to muscles, ligaments, and joints very common.

According to FIFA, injuries are 12 times more likely to occur during matches than in training, due to intensity, fatigue, and collisions.

This is why sports organizations recommend implementing body awareness, injury-prevention warm-ups, and strengthening programs from a young age. They also promote stricter rules against dangerous tackles and emphasize the importance of field maintenance and proper footwear to minimize risks.

Muscle injuries are the most frequent (41%), including strains, contractures, and tears. Nearly two-thirds affect the hamstrings, and surprisingly, 90% occur without direct contact.

While minor strains may heal with rest and physiotherapy, a muscle tear can require several weeks or even surgery.

Ligament injuries represent about 21% of cases, with ankle sprains being the most common, followed by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

Other frequent conditions include tendinopathies (such as groin strain or jumper’s knee), direct trauma (bruises, contusions), and joint or bone injuries (fractures or subluxations).

Osgood-Schlatter disease mainly affects children and adolescent athletes. It results from excessive traction of the quadriceps muscle on a still-growing tibia, causing inflammation, pain, and sometimes a small bone deformity.

Postural asymmetries or limited hip and knee mobility can worsen the condition. In such cases, physiotherapy and osteopathy together can help relieve muscle tension, improve alignment, and prevent recurrence during growth.

Both disciplines work complementarily to optimize performance, prevent injuries, and ensure full, safe recovery for players at all levels.

During pre-season, physiotherapists and osteopaths assess the body globally to identify muscular imbalances and joint restrictions.

Sports physiotherapy uses strengthening exercises, stretching, and neuromuscular training to enhance stability, coordination, and endurance.

Osteopathy, through manual techniques, restores mobility and alignment across joints, allowing for pain-free, efficient movement.

Together, they prepare the body to handle training load and reduce the risk of injury.

After an injury, combining physiotherapy and osteopathy ensures a faster and more complete recovery.

The physiotherapist leads functional rehabilitation, retraining strength, proprioception, and coordination to regain full performance.

The osteopath restores overall mobility, reducing compensations and improving tissue recovery.

By working together, they adapt the treatment plan to each healing phase and the player’s specific goals.

Performance is not just about training. Rest, nutrition, hydration, mental balance, and active recovery (massage, cryotherapy, lymphatic drainage, etc.) are equally vital.

Physiotherapy and osteopathy also educate athletes to adopt healthy habits that sustain their performance throughout the season.

The synergy between strength, flexibility, and coordination defines football performance. By combining physiotherapy and osteopathy, players can prevent injuries, improve movement efficiency, and maximize their potential safely.

Integrating these therapies into regular training is not a luxury — it’s an investment in long-term performance and well-being.

At Aliantis Sitges, our multidisciplinary team supports both professional and amateur football players with personalized care combining physiotherapy, osteopathy, and health education.

Caring for your body means caring for your passion — football.

This blog article is not intended to generate new knowledge; its content is based on a review of scientific publications, blog posts, and other written sources.