FOOTBALL BOOT REVIEW 2020 – Seniors Written by SPORTS PODIATRIST Paul Karak and Matthew Gamble @ Core Podiatry Group FOOTBALL 2020 has seen some big changes in weight, stiffness and ultimately performance of the football boot. Choosing a boot this year gets trickier, but with help from Core Podiatry Group located in southeast Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula, we can help you select the right boot for your needs – ultimately preventing injuries that may have developed due to poor boot selection. Below is a summary of some of our favourite football boots for 2020. This summary will provide you with a basic insight into footwear technology and models currently available. Asics Gel Lethal Ultimate FF 14.0 -4 mm flytfoa Size 5-12, 13,14,15 RRP-$ 220.00 265 grams The Gel Lethal Ultimate made of kangaroo leather is a very well positioned shoe to protect the footballer from many impact related injuries due to its full length 10 mm pitched cushioned Flytefoam Midsole. It’s Solyte Outsole has great torsional stiffness and a good traction. It has great forefoot cushioning – something that no other brand of football boot has and is super light. It can fit an orthotic well with a deep heel counter and is our recommendation for the athlete returning from injury or with a long history of lower limb injuries, or playing on hard turf surfaces. Asics Tigroer IT (FF / ST) 7.0 –0 mm flytfoam drop Sizes 5-12,13,14,15,16,17 RRP-$240.00 The Tigreor positions itself well as a more performance based football boot weighing 250 grams, but with still some protective cushioning and a 10mm pitched flytefoam heel. It too has a deep heel counter to fit an orthoses and a firm /stiff last to protect the joints of the feet when running and changing direction. The upper is made of kangaroo leather too making it an extremely comfortable shoe. A real favourite of ours.. RF 12mm stud from ground Ultrezza (AG available) 5.0 – 0 mm Solyte drop Sizes 6-12, 13,14,15 RRP $ 290.00 / 200.00 AG 250 grams The Ultrezza is a great boot for that footballer that wants a light weight boot with a slight pitch.. It accommodates an orthoses well with its deep firm heel counter and has a kangaroo leather upper for extreme comfort. Its rear foot cushioning makes it an extremely comfortable football boot too. Its outsole plate has excellent torsion stiffness and is very responsive. Moulds well to the foot. Available in AG too (artificial ground) Asics Menace 0mm Solyte drop Size : 7-12,13,14 RRP $ 239.99 215 grams The DS Light is a very lightweight and responsive boot with a synthetic upper withstanding extreme weather conditions. It is for the traditionalist with a zero grade midsole platform (no pitch) which separates it from all the other Asics boots and with its external heel counter it is great for accommodating Haglunds of the heel. Not suitable for athletes with achilles or calf problems. Adidas Kakari SG /FG Size :7- 13 RRP $ 129.99 The adidas Kakari is more of a Rugby boot with its tradional 6 stud configuration at the forefoot and deep aluminium studs. Its upper is synthetic but fits well with well positioned stitch lines for flexion. It has a stiff midole and good flex at forefoot. It’s heel counter is firm and deep to accommodate an orthotic. Again, it’s a zero grade platform. Copa Gloro 20.2 Size: 7-13 RRP $ 149.99 Constructed with a premium xray leather vamp upper, the copa has a comfortable sock like fit and lacing system that wraps the foot for a snug, supportive fit. The Copa is available in three colour ways. It has a wider fit toe box and features a TPU outsole for a light (230g) yet very stiff responsive feel. It has a zero drop platform like all adidas boots and would suit an Puma Future 5.3 NETFIT FG Size: 6-11,12 RRP $ 119.99 Puma’s Future 5.3 is a great middle line football boot. It has a firm, deep heel counter to accommodate an orthoses, and has torsional stiffness through its midsole to protect the foot when changing directions. Its netfit synthetic upper appears inflexible so ensure the fit is right. It has improved its texture on the upper to reduce slippage when kicking in the wet, a great update from the 2019 Future. It is very lightweight and responsive and it has maintained its hybrid stud configuration that makes it suit most ground surfaces. It has a zero-drop platform like the Adidas range and is available in AG (artificial ground) stud configuration Nike Phantom Venom Academy Size: 4-13 RRP $ 119.99 Nike Phantom is a well priced football boot The Nike Phantom Venom Academy FG is engineered for powerful, precise strikes and is a well priced performance boot for a forward or attacking midfielder. Ridges on the instep create spin to control the flight of the ball, while the firm-ground plate provides great torsional stiffness. It can fit a rigid orthoses well however with a foam orthoses the depth and width may be insufficient. Asics Lethal Testimonial 4 IT 10.0 – 0 mm Solyte drop Size: 6-12,13,14 RRP $270.00 Asics Testimonial is a great all round boot.. It can accommodate an orthoses (although narrow through the arch of the boot) and is a lightweight boot coming in at 235 grams. It measures 12mm from the ground at the rear and has a solyte midsole for cushioning. Its upper is soft and conforming made of kangaroo leather. It is available in 4 colours. Core Podiarty http://www.podiatrygroup.com.au/ Langwarrin (03) 9776 5576 Located @ Langwarrin Sports Medicine Centre 83-85 Cranbourne Rd, Langwarrin www.psmgroup.com.au Shoulder Dislocations The shoulder is a fascinating joint with incredible flexibility. It is connected to the body via a complex system of muscles and ligaments. Most of the other joints in the body are very stable, thanks to the structure of the bones and ligaments surrounding them. However, the shoulder has so much movement and flexibility that stability is reduced to allow for this. Unfortunately, this increased flexibility means that the shoulder is more vulnerable to joint dislocations. What is a dislocation and how does it happen? As the name suggests, a dislocated shoulder is where the head of the upper arm moves out of its normal anatomical position to sit outside of the shoulder socket joint. Some people have more flexible joints than others and will, unfortunately, have joints that move out of position without much force. Other people might never dislocate their shoulders unless they experience a traumatic injury that forces it out of place. The shoulder can dislocate in many different directions, the most common being anterior or forwards. This usually occurs when the arm is raised and forced backward in a ‘stop sign’ position. What to do if this happens The first time a shoulder dislocates is usually the most serious. If the shoulder doesn’t just go back in by itself (spontaneous relocation), then someone will need to help to put it back in. This needs to be done by a professional as they must be able to assess what type of dislocation has occurred, and often an X-ray needs to be taken before the relocation happens. A small fracture can actually occur as the shoulder is being put into place, which is why it is so important to have a professional perform the procedure with X-Ray guidance if necessary. How can physiotherapy help? Following a dislocation, your physiotherapist can advise on how to allow the best healing for the shoulder. It is essential to keep the shoulder protected for a period to allow any damaged structures to heal as well as they can. After this, a muscle-strengthening and stabilization program can begin. This is aimed at helping the muscles around the shoulder to provide further stability and prevent future dislocations. The information in this article is not a replacement for proper medical advice. Always see a medical professional for an assessment of your condition. Tips For Beating Post Workout Soreness – DOMS Nothing can ruin your enthusiasm for a new workout program faster than the pain and stiffness that sneaks up on you the day after. This delayed reaction from your muscles, known as DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness, has affected almost all of us at one time or another. While there is no sure-fire cure or prevention for DOMS, here are a few tips to help reduce your symptoms next time you hit the gym Understand what it is. DOMS is thought to be a result of micro-tears in the muscle tissues during eccentric exercises in particular. While DOMS is not a sign of a serious injury and usually goes away on its own within 48 hours, it can be very uncomfortable and be a deterrent to continue exercising. It can also leave you at a higher risk of injury, and for athletes who are competing in a tournament and need to recover quickly, DOMS can be particularly problematic. Warm-up and cool-down. By taking the time to let your muscles warm-up, your muscles can operate at maximum flexibility and reducing the tension on muscle tissues during exercise. A cool-down allows effective blood flow to muscles after exercise, so that any waste products such as lactic acid and calcium can flow back into the bloodstream rather than staying in the muscle tissues.