Active Grandparents teach football trick or two!
As the World Cup kicks off on the 11th June, research from Saga Private Medical Insurance reveals that the event will inspire almost a third (29%) of the public to have a kick around themselves.
The over 50s are seizing the opportunity to spend more time with their grandchildren with over a fifth (21%) planning to teach the younger generation a few footballing tricks in the garden. One in ten adults say they will spend more time playing with their children, and a further one in five (17%) will kick a ball around with their friends.
Football is as popular as ever in the UK, with almost one in ten (7%) men playing on a weekly basis. However Wayne Rooney wannabes should be careful, as the research reveals that over half (52%) of those who play have suffered an injury on the pitch. Over a quarter (27%) have sprained an ankle, whilst a similar amount (26%) have had painful cramps. Serious injuries are also relatively common, with one in ten having suffered fractures and the same amount experienced back injuries.
Although most sporting injuries take a relatively short time to heal, some can mean months of rehabilitation. According to those who have suffered a footballing injury, the average time for ligament damage to repair is 74 days, while it is 54 days for fractures.
Weeks of reduced mobility and ongoing rehabilitative treatment are an inconvenience, particularly for those trying to enjoy an active retirement. PMI offers a practical solution, putting patients in control of their own treatment, by enabling them to book appointments that are convenient for them and giving people quicker access to treatment such as physiotherapy as well as offering a range of treatments not widely available on the NHS such as chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy and acupuncture.
Saga's Private Medical Insurance policy HealthPlan Super offers wide cover for sporting injuries, unlimited cover for Physiotherapy and it also provides up to £1200 a year for Complementary practitioner charges.