Are Boots To Blame For England Football Injuries?

The current question among England football fans after star player, Wayne Rooney, broke the fourth metatarsal bone on his right foot, is whether the boots are to blame for the number of injuries experienced by English footballers.


If Rooney makes a swift recovery he may be able to play in some of the World Cup matches. Whether he will be fighting fit is doubtful.


Rooney was wearing Nike Total 90 Supremacy boots. He wore them for the first time on the day he had the injury. Nike denies its boots are linked to a higher risk of injury.


Tom Docherty, who used to manage Manchester United, Rooney's current team, said to the Manchester Evening news that his wife, a physiotherapist, thinks the boots are to blame.


Docherty said that when he was a professional football player in the 1950s it used to take six weeks to break a pair of boots in. Players used to have to put them in a bucket of water. He added that balls are much lighter now and the pitches are in much better condition. Docherty believes the modern boot does not support the foot properly.


Rooney broke a metatarsal in 2004. David Beckham, Gary Neville and Roy Keane have all suffered a broken metatarsal.


When football pitches were not so good in the 70s and 80s hernias were the most common injuries.


Some ex-footballers say modern boots are like slippers.


Tony Book, an ex-professional footballer, told the Manchester Evening News he believes the name of the injury has changed. He believes the old 'broken toe' injury is now reported as 'fractured/broken metatarsal'.


Others say it is the media attention, or the faster pace of modern football.


The most common comments made by England fans and commentators are:


1. The boots.

2. Players are not getting enough rest.


There Are 5 Metatarsal Bones (in the foot)


-- The First Metatarsal Bone

Os metatarsale I; metatarsal bone of the great toe

The thickest and shortest one.


-- The Second Metatarsal Bone

Os metatarsale II

The longest one

David Beckham's injury in 2002


-- The third metatarsal bone

Os metatarsale III


-- The fourth metatarsal bone

Os metatarsale IV

Wayne Rooney's current injury


-- The fifth metatarsal bone

Os metatarsale V

Wayne Rooney's injury in 2004


Click Here To See Illustrations - Wikipedia


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