With the World Cup approaching, the enthusiasm promoted by the competition is renewed and football becomes more than just entertainment, with the famous “naked games” becoming even more frequent among friends who love the sport.

The excitement, which leads many people to put on their football boots again after a long period without playing the sport, can be fun, but it also brings risks. For Dr. Rodrigo Góes, orthopedist and spine surgeon at Albert Einstein Hospital, many occasional players enter the field without any physical preparation, which leads to different types of injuries.

“Nada is a fun event among friends. However, what many forget is that they can provoke muscle injuriesjoint problems and even cardiovascular complications. It is worth remembering that football is a highly physically demanding activity, even in recreational matches. Intense races, sudden changes of direction, sprints and physical contact require conditioning, muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance”, he warns.

Injuries, according to Dr. Rodrigo Góes, are the consequences of a very common error among amateur players. This is because most of them spend months with a sedentary routine and decide to play an intense game. Without constant physical exercise, especially weight training, the body is not prepared to withstand the sudden effort.

Most common injuries among amateur players

Among occasional practitioners, some physical problems appear more frequently due to intense effort and lack of adequate conditioning. “In amateur football, there are injuries that are more frequent, such as muscle strains and ankle sprains. The knee is also an area of ​​the body that receives more loads when we play football; therefore, it is common for amateurs to have different problems in the kneesuch as ligament rupture, in addition to being more susceptible to tendonitis, calf discomfort and lower back pain”, says Dr. Rodrigo Góes.

weekend athlete

According to Dr. Rodrigo Góes, men over 30 deserve special attention, especially those who maintain a sedentary routine throughout the day and concentrate all their physical activity only on weekend football matches.

According to him, this profile is known as a “weekend athlete”, when a person spends a long time without exercising and suddenly subjects their body to intense effort, which significantly increases the risk of muscle and joint injuries and other physical problems.

How to reduce risks when naked

With some simple precautions before the match, it is possible to greatly reduce the chances of physical problems during recreational football. “It is possible to reduce risks, especially if they return to the practice of physical exercises daily and stretch or warm up before starting to play. But it is worth highlighting that it is recommended to undergo a medical evaluation before returning to playing sports”, says the spine surgeon at Albert Einstein Hospital.

Despite the warnings, the orthopedist highlights that recreational football brings important benefits to physical and mental health, such as improving cardiovascular fitness, socialization and reducing stress. The recommendation is simple: enjoy your passion for sport responsibly. “Playing ball is excellent for your health, as long as you are prepared and aware of your body’s limits”, concludes the doctor.

By Beatriz De Mello