Footballers are warned of the risk of playing in blades
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SPORTS injury specialists today warned they are seeing growing numbers of young players with injuries linked to "blades" football boots.The boots have become hugely popular in recent years after being worn by a number of top players, such as David Beckham, below.
However, concerns about a heightened risk of injury have led specialists to warn players to think twice before buying them.
Some youth sides in the city are also following the example of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and banning players from wearing them.
Specialists fear that players can suffer more severe injuries wearing blades because they grip the turf more firmly than traditional studs.
Their elongated shape may mean that when a player's body twists, under the force of a tackle or a fall, their leg does not turn properly with them.
There are also concerns that their sharper shape can inflict worse injuries on opposition players than rounded studs.
Carol Black, an Edinburgh podiatrist who works with the Scottish Youth Football Association's development squads, said she was concerned about young players wearing blades.
"It's a case of getting past the fact that David Beckham wears them," said the specialist, who is based at the Blackhall Chiropody and Podiatry Clinic.
"In my job, whether it's coincidence or not, the majority of young footballers whose feet I treat wear blades. Is that all that's available? And the number of knees I've seen that have to be stitched because of tackles involving metal-tipped blades."
The players at both Hibs and Hearts do not tend to wear blades in either matches or training, although neither club is thought to have banned them.
Stewart Laird, who coaches young players at Fernieside FC, believes his blades may have exacerbated a serious injury he suffers.
As a result, he now advises his young charges against buying them.
He said: "I made a tackle, placed my foot down, and my knee gave way.
"I have never felt pain like it.
"I was nine months out after damaging the cruciate in my knee.
"I've not been able to kick with my right foot since, but thankfully I'm both-footed.
"I tell my players at Fernieside not to wear blades. I'm not an expert, you just need to go into sporting books, and you are advised not to wear them."
Leith Athletic are among the other youth sides to have banned them.
Keir Blaikie, 17, was told his blades may have made his injury worse when he suffered an horrific double leg break playing for Hutchison in May.
Yet despite this, the Eyemouth High School pupil remains unconvinced. He said: "I'm not sure I'll wear my old boots again and I'm not sure, unless I found conclusive proof (of the effect of blades], that I'd think twice about buying another pair.
"As long as they're light and they feel ok, I don't mind."
Johnny Pearson, head of the sports science department at Stevenson College, said: "I know they were banned in the NFL in America because if you turn quickly wearing blades you are more vulnerable to injury than if you were wearing studs.
"It is worse on astroturf than grass because that has some give, but it's also more dangerous for other players.
"If you go into a bad tackle with the blades they would cause more damage than studs, although having said that studs can cause injury as well." -
no wonder last time my coach kpkb me when i wear =.=
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very pain one leh this kind of bladed boots.