Physical preparation and return to sport of the football player with a tibia-fibula fracture: applying the ‘control-chaos continuum’

Case scenario

While non-contact lower limb injuries are common in elite football,1 contact from poorly timed kicks or tackles can result in severe injuries such as traumatic fracture. Currently, limited information exists describing the rehabilitation and the Return to Sport (RTS) following traumatic fractures (commonly to the tibia, fibula or a combination of both).2 3

In this video-supported viewpoint, we outline the on-pitch/sport-specific rehabilitation of an English Premier League footballer who suffered an open fracture of the distal tibia-fibula just above the ankle joint following an opponent’s poorly timed kick (figure 1A). Using the ‘control-chaos continuum’ as a framework for RTS,4 the goal was to return the player to pre-injury running loads using global positioning systems (GPS). The qualitative aspects of movement in competition were also considered; progressive variable, spontaneous and unanticipated movements, (the conditions of chaos) reflecting the unpredictable nature of sport.4

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Mechanical loading: the foundation for return to running

Early management following surgery was aimed at optimal loading to minimise muscle atrophy and to regain pain-free full range of motion (table 1). Optimal loading may be defined as the load applied to structures that maximises physiological adaptation and restores function.5 Throughout rehabilitation, conditioning was designed to restore mechanical rigidity by applying progressive loading to stimulate bone remodelling based on the principles of mechanotransduction.6

A variety of isometric exercises (figure 2) were used to develop strength in key running-specific positions, such as the initial acceleration and stance phases. Additionally, dynamic hip and knee flexor/extensor exercises (figure 2) were used to provide greater loading stimulus for bone adaptation.7 Blood flow restriction was implemented on selected exercises (figure 2) to enhance local growth factor release, stimulate bone remodelling and cross-sectional hypertrophy of the involved limb.8 We integrated jump-landing activities progressively, to develop the player’s capacity to produce and accept force at high velocity, moving from in-place/slow stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) activities to increasingly dynamic fast SSC activities (figure 2).9

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Fifteen weeks post-injury, the fracture site had virtually united (figure 1B). Additionally, with strength diagnostics (isometric posterior chain and isometric mid-thigh pull) within <10% peak force limb asymmetry, the player had achieved criteria to initiate anti-gravity treadmill running (Alter-G, Fremont, USA). The player began running at 60% bodyweight, progressing to 90% as the penultimate step before transition to on-pitch running, five months post-injury.

RTS Using the ‘control-chaos continuum’

When formulating the on-pitch running programme, we emphasised gradual progression in both volume and intensity, creating progressive increments in load — key bone remodelling stimuli.9 We extended the return to running phase and progressively introduced high-speed running (HSR), relative to training/match demands implementing two week progressive increments in running loads followed by a one week reduction until the desired loads were achieved.4 Throughout rehabilitation, physical conditioning emphasised the development of aerobic-alactic fitness, repeated accelerations and speed-endurance qualities. Daily communication between the performance, medical team and player was integral throughout the process with minimal pain (<2/10 numerical rating scale), absence of joint effusion, achievement of running load targets and technical actions as phase progression criteria.

High control: weeks 1–3 (20–23 weeks post-injury)

The high control phase aimed to establish a base for on-pitch preparation, and to progressively increase running volume (total distance). Running speeds were limited to 60%–65% of maximal speed to limit strain rate and magnitude of bone loading. Return to running sessions comprised of box-to-box runs; walking to the edge of the 6-yard box and back as active recovery (figure 3). This phase laid the foundation for running progression and built player confidence and trust in the rehabilitation process.

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Moderate control: weeks 4–6 (24–26 weeks post-injury)

Having set the foundation, the aim of this stage was to reduce task and environmental constraints,10 while progressively increasing explosive distance. Change of direction was incorporated into intermittent dribbling lanes while slightly increasing linear running velocities to achieve lower threshold HSR (‘zone 5’; between 5.5 ms⁻¹ and 7 ms⁻¹). These HSR efforts were integrated over distances of 40 m with gradual acceleration and decelerations, hence over the 40 m, only 20–25 m lower threshold HSR was achieved, with the number of these efforts tailored to sessional running load targets. Within these sessions, technical qualities such as short-range passing (figure 3) were added, but in a controlled manner, ie, 5 m pass to rebound board, as part of intermittent conditioning blocks. Low volume contact was also integrated (ie, static block tackle; 2×2 repetitions), targeting the involved limb to create site-specific mechanical loading stimuli.11 Conditioning aimed to develop threshold endurance (80%–90% maximal heart-rate (Max^HR); figure 3), with volume progressed by increasing the number of 3–4 min intervals and alterations in session density by manipulating rest periods (1–2 min passive recovery). Throughout this phase, we increased total distance, with the intensity of the drill and high metabolic load distances manipulated by altering work to rest ratio between intermittent efforts (per interval).

Control to chaos: weeks 7 and 8 (27–28 weeks post-injury)

Following a reduction in running loads during week six (session number reduced from four to three), week seven saw the transition to a football-specific model with either intensive or extensive sessions (figure 3).4 Intensive sessions integrated technical qualities through the inclusion of pass and move drills with other staff involved to increase the ‘chaotic’ demands of the session while maintaining control over the number, distance and direction of passing. Additionally, positional acceleration drills were integrated during intensive sessions to target acceleration/deceleration qualities important to the nature of the players position (2–3 sets; 3–6 repetitions;~5 m). Positional-specific conditioning drills were also performed in areas specific to the player’s training/match demands. We designed warm-ups according to the specific demands of the session, ie, for extensive sessions higher speeds and longer distances. Extensive conditioning drills were designed to achieve planned HSR targets determined by current rehabilitation HSR, chronic HSR targets and the players game load. If these targets were not achieved, additional HSR was performed using aerobic power (15:15 s) intervals (85%–90% Max^HR;~40–45 m HSR per repetition) (figure 3).

Moderate chaos: weeks 9 and 10 (29–30 weeks post-injury)

Intensive and extensive sessions were designed to continue the development of aerobic fitness (>85% Max^HR) with the speed/direction of passing used to dictate player movement within football-specific conditional drills. Using GPS metrics, chronic loading was aligned with pre-injury training load while we increased the volume of technical actions such as, block tackling (4×3 repetitions); with consideration given to match-play context (ie, number of block challenges). Within extensive sessions, we increased moderate to long-range passing with an emphasis on the player moving to receive the ball in a suitable position to deliver a pass, such as a diagonal cross-field pass before transitioning up the field of play (generating HSR) to receive the ball in the final third of the field — emphasising speed-endurance conditioning (figure 3). At twenty-eight weeks post-injury, the fracture site was united (figure 1C) and the player discharged from surgical care.

High chaos (weeks 11 and 12 (31–32 weeks post-injury)

In the final two weeks of rehabilitation, chronic load was increased above pre-injury training load but just below concurrent (training plus match) load given player was to be phased back into team training before competitive match involvement (figure 4). We continued to emphasise aerobic conditioning with session internal load (heart-rate exertion and time >85%Max^HR) dictated by drills aiming to mimic training structure. Increased HSR (>5.5 ms⁻¹) and sprinting (>7 ms⁻¹) volume was achieved by chaotically moving onto through balls, and predominantly through speed and speed-endurance conditioning drills (figure 3). If session targets were not achieved, additional sprint distance was performed through rolling single-effort sprints (40 m in 5–6 s;~20–25 m sprint distance). During the final week of rehabilitation, the player achieved a new maximal speed (9.2 ms⁻¹; 103% pre-injury) (figure 3). The player returned to training after seven months, although jump height and its principle determinant (Con impulse) was still below pre-injury values, key countermovement jump (CMJ) neuromuscular efficiency (flight time:contraction time), eccentric capacity (Ecc. Decel. RFD) and early force production markers (Con Impulse-100ms) had returned to or were superior to pre-injury values (figure 5). Importantly, key force reduction (Ecc. Decel RFD) and production (Peak Con GRF) CMJ asymmetries, identified as showing persistent deficits following severe injury in elite players even after return to competition,12 were close to zero. After nine months, the player completed 90 min of competitive match-play, and currently remains injury-free eleven month post-RTS having been ever-present during team training and available for selection as required by team management.

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Conclusion

Even for rare injuries such as tibia-fibula fractures, successful RTS is achieved through balancing objective information, utilising specific outcome measures and informed clinical reasoning.13 Good communication between performance and sports medical teams facilitates the shared decision-making process,14 providing the player with optimal care through integrated performance and health management.