Knee & Ankle Support For Footballers

Why Is Football So Hard On The Legs?

Football is an intense game, which is one of the many reasons why so many people love watching it and playing it. Because it’s so dynamic and fast-paced, it’s sure to take a toll on the knees and ankles of anyone donning their football boots and putting in their all for the game – think about the constant changes in
direction, the abrupt stops, and the high-impact movements footballers make in general, and you’ll soon see just why they’re so susceptible to various injuries, including common problems like ACL tears, patellar tendonitis, and ankle sprains. The lower limbs are always under a lot of stress during a football game or training, which can lead to a lot of pain, discomfort, and injuries.

That’s why it’s so important to have the right knee and ankle support for football during your playing so that you can reduce the chances of injury and keep your legs safe and protected. When you add these supports to other protection measures, like targeted exercises, supplements, and other important elements, you’ll be able to play for longer without running the risk of calling time early.

Many footballers find it crucial to protect themselves from knee and ankle injuries, and one way to do that is to wear joint supports to help them in the best way possible and even to improve their performance on the pitch. With that in mind, let’s look at knee and ankle supports for football and see precisely what’s needed and how it all works.

Common Knee & Ankle Injuries In Football

Understanding what could go wrong during a football game if you’re not taking care of your knees in the right way could help motivate you to explore your options more thoroughly, so here are some of the most common knee injuries that need the best knee support for playing football.

Just like with your knees, your ankles can be in serious trouble when it comes to football – here are some examples of what might happen.

Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles tendon is vital for foot movements, but it can get inflamed if it’s used too much or if you’re using the wrong shoes, for example, which is why footballers might experience this specific problem. You can help yourself by wearing supportive ankle sleeves, which will add another layer of ankle protection for football.

"I am using this product for a football injury to my ankle. Since using the product I have returned to training and am feeling stronger and less pain from the injury. Highly recommended." 👍

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

The ACL is a crucial ligament that keeps your knee joint nice and stable. Many footballers suffer from this particular injury because of all the sudden stops, changes in direction, or even direct knee impact with other players (or the ground). Wearing high-quality knee supports for football like the ones from Bearhug can give you the extra stability you need so that none of that is a problem anymore.

"The Bearhug knee support is very comfortable to wear and certainly helps give relief to osteo-arthritis. Able to play walking football but still limited when turning."

Joint Protection

As well as knee support for football, if you want to prevent knee injuries, you have to make sure you’re doing whatever you can when it comes to joint protection, so use the supports we’ve mentioned above and ensure you warm up properly. Some players might want to consider supplements rich in glucosamine and chondroitin to give them much better joint health overall.

"Thought my footballing time was over. Too much damage done in the past. However, these give you the confidence to get stuck in again. Not a gimmick. Brilliant."

Meniscus Tears

The meniscus is cartilage in the knee joint, and it’s something that can easily be torn if it’s twisted, which can happen on a regular basis when there’s a quick change of direction or a tackle with another player on the pitch. Using the best knee support for football players can give you a way to compress the tendon so it’s not quite so vulnerable anymore.

"I would recommend trying these supports. I have been using them for a few weeks now and they are really helping with both my knee joints. I have had various knee injuries and I now have arthritis. They give me good support and comfort. I have even purchased another knee support for my husband who needs help with knee pain from a football injury."

Patellar Tendonitis

Patellar tendonitis is also known as ‘jumper’s knee,’ which might give you some idea about why it’s such a common issue for footballers. It’s all about the patellar tendon, which becomes inflamed and painful with this issue. As you can see, proper knee support for playing football can reduce the stress on the tendon during the game and help to keep it in good condition – which means less pain and more mobility for you.

"I recently purchased a Knee Compression Support Sleeve following straining my knee. The knee support assisted my recovery and has enabled me to carry on playing football pain free and with confidence. I chose to use Bearhug from previously using their Ankle Support. I initially used their Ankle Support following a sprained ankle, however due to the comfort and support it offered I then purchased a pair and now use them every time I play."

Wearing Joint Supports During And After Football

Although you might think about wearing knee and ankle supports while playing football if you want to protect yourself from the problems we mentioned above, you can also wear them after a game, which can help, too.

Thigh Support For Running

While thighs might not be as prone to injuries as knees or calves, proper support is crucial. Consider using a thigh support for running, especially during intense training sessions or events like marathons where you’ll need to put in a lot of sustained effort and keep yourself safe and protected at the same time.

During Gameplay

Investing in an excellent knee support for football UK is a great idea for any football player, no matter whether you’re amateur or professional or how much you play. You’ll have all the support you need to be able to play well and not be worried about injury (although you must still be careful, of course).

Post-Game Recovery

The strain on the knees and ankles doesn’t actually end when the final whistle blows, and it can cause problems much later on. Wearing joint supports after a game to help your joints and tendons recover properly is a great idea that can help reduce discomfort and speed up the healing process so you’re ready for your next match.

Joint Protection

Wearing the best knee support for playing football is a good start, but it’s wise to make sure you understand there are other things you can do to enhance the protection you’re giving your joints. We’ve mentioned supplements and warmups already, and they can be just the right thing to do, but as well as this, you can spend some time doing low-impact exercises like swimming and cycling – that will help you to keep your joints more flexible and make sure they’re not going to be put under too much strain when you use them to play football.

"Feeling more confident with my knee in the Bearhug support while playing football, so much so that I managed to get a tackle in on a younger and better player and cracked a rib. Knee is fine but now I can’t breathe. 5 stars!"