From the editors
As the game continues to evolve at extraordinary speed, so too must the medical, performance, and support systems that underpin elite football. This edition reflects that evolution—bringing together clinical insight, interdisciplinary thinking, and critical reflection on the realities of modern professional football.
We open with a compelling clinical case report, “The Use of Bisphosphonates in the Management of Pubic Overload in an English Premier League Footballer” by physiotherapist Mr Adam Johnson, which provides valuable discussion around complex load-related pathology and pharmacological decision-making at the highest level of the game.
Calf muscle strain injuries are a significant cause of time loss in professional football. Lower limb rehabilitation specialist Dr Colin Griffin examines the factors that make soleus strains particularly disruptive to performance and availability. The article outlines the key anatomical, mechanical, and biological considerations underpinning these injuries and introduces a practical rehabilitation framework grounded in tissue healing principles and the specific performance demands of football.
This edition also addresses the unintended consequences of medical interventions in elite sport. Dr Christopher Mogekwu presents a cautionary and educational case in “A Bitter Pill to Swallow: Doxycycline-Induced Oesophagitis in an Elite Athlete”, reminding practitioners of the importance of vigilance, communication, and player education when prescribing commonly used medications.
Beyond traditional medical models, we are pleased to include Dr Antonio Pereira, Consultant of Performance, Recovery, Concentration and Imagery in Football article on “Integrating Yoga into Contemporary Football Training”, which examines how holistic practices can be meaningfully embedded into high-performance environments to support physical resilience and mental well-being. In elite football, where performance demands are relentlessly high, athletes are continually looking for ways to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional readiness.
Football medicine does not exist in isolation from its working culture. In “‘My 10-Month Interview’: Unpaid Labour for Performance and Medical Staff in Men’s Professional Football,” Dr Jacob Griffiths, a lecturer of Sports Coaching and Performance, offers a critical and timely examination of employment practices within the professional game, encouraging reflection and dialogue around sustainability, ethics, and workforce wellbeing.
At the international level, Dr Shane Worthington, a sports and exercise medicine registrar, provides a wide-ranging perspective in “Medical Care in International Football: Insights, Challenges, and the Road Ahead”, addressing the unique logistical, clinical, and governance challenges
aced when delivering care across borders, tournaments, and cultures.
A key highlight of this edition is our dedicated focus on dentistry in professional football, an area often overlooked yet fundamentally linked to performance, development, and long-term health. “Disadvantage Starts Early: Oral Health Challenges in English Academy Footballers” by sports dentist Dr Saul Konviser, as well as Dr Martine Nurek, Professor Ian Needleman and Professor Peter Fine presents important data and raises critical questions about access, prevention, and inequality within youth pathways. This is complemented by a practical and engaging piece, “Shooting wide? Or straining muscles? Then open wide!” by dental surgeon Dr Sunny Sharman, which reinforces the relevance of oral health to injury risk, recovery, and overall performance.
Together, the articles in this first 2026 edition reflect the breadth and depth of modern football medicine —spanning clinical science, performance innovation, ethical practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.
We hope this collection informs your practice, challenges assumptions, and stimulates continued conversation across the football medicine and performance community.