Northern Ireland has a passionate sporting community — from GAA clubs across Belfast and beyond to rugby at Ravenhill and countless football pitches. But the demands of field sports on your feet, ankles, and lower limbs are intense. At the Lower Limb Clinic, we're proud to treat athletes from grassroots to elite level.
Most Common Field Sport Injuries We Treat
Ankle Sprains
The most common acute injury in GAA, rugby, and football. While many sprains heal with basic first aid, recurrent sprains or persistent pain needs investigation. Chronic ankle instability is common after poorly rehabilitated sprains and can affect your performance for years.
Achilles Tendinopathy
The explosive running, jumping, and direction changes in field sports put enormous load on the Achilles tendon. We see this frequently in hurlers, Gaelic footballers, and rugby players. Shockwave therapy combined with a progressive loading programme is highly effective.
Metatarsal Stress Fractures
High training volumes — especially on hard ground during summer pre-season — can lead to stress fractures in the small bones of the foot. Pain that worsens with every training session and doesn't settle with rest needs urgent assessment.
Plantar Fasciitis
Common in players who train on hard surfaces or have biomechanical issues. Boot selection is particularly important — the thin soles of football and GAA boots offer minimal support compared to running shoes.
Turf Toe
A sprain of the big toe joint, common when playing on artificial surfaces. Can be surprisingly debilitating and slow to heal without proper management.
The Importance of Boot Selection
We see countless foot injuries made worse by poorly fitting or inappropriate boots. Consider:
- Stud configuration matters — moulded studs suit hard ground; metal studs for soft
- Boot width varies hugely between brands
- Orthotics can be modified to fit most boots
- Don't wear boots that are too tight — this causes neuromas and nail problems
Return to Play: Getting It Right
Returning too soon from an injury is the single biggest mistake we see. A structured return-to-play programme reduces re-injury risk significantly. We work with you to build a graded programme that gets you match-fit safely.
Pre-Season Screening
Prevention is always better than treatment. A pre-season biomechanical screening can identify issues that could lead to injury during the season. This is especially valuable for teams — we offer group screening rates for GAA clubs, rugby clubs, and football teams across Belfast.
Get Back on the Pitch
If a lower limb injury is keeping you off the pitch, don't wait for it to resolve on its own. The sooner you get the right diagnosis and treatment, the sooner you're back playing. Book your sports injury assessment at the Lower Limb Clinic today.
