Prevention & Treatment of Common Soccer Injuries
By Dr. Josh Prickett, Medical Director of North TarrantbrE-Care Emergency Center
In April, soccer season for most Southlakebrschool teams and recreational leagues draws to a close, just in time forbrspring/summer youth soccer to start again. The Carroll Dragons have men's andbrladies' soccer teams in the District 4-5A playoffs. Both local soccer squads racked up impressive stats thisbrseason, hoping to cap it off with trophies and team titles – but definitely not with injuries.
With proper training and precautions,brathletes can avoid the most common soccer injuries. As with any athleticbrpursuit, sports injuries suffered while playing soccer can be related to poorbrtraining, improper equipment, insufficient conditioning, insufficientbrstretching, and traumatic collisions with players or obstacles. Everybrindividual athlete is different, but injuries to the legs (lower extremities)brtend to occur more than others, according to the sports medicine experts at StopSportsInjuries.org.
Lower Extremity Injuries in Soccer
· Torn Cartilage such as the Meniscus of the Knee.
· Knee Injury Such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) or Medial CollateralbrLigament (MCL)
· Hamstring Muscle Injury
· Fractures or Contusions
Although the legs and lower body arebrfrequent trouble areas for soccer players, you should also take care to guardbragainst sports injuries attributed to over-training. Overdoing soccer workoutsbrcan result in injury to the lower body or legs in the form of shin splints,brpatellar tendinitis, Achilles tendinitis, thigh or calf muscle strain, andbrstress fractures.
Other areas of the body at risk in soccerbrinclude wrists (sprains and fractures), shoulders (dislocations), head andbrneck. Soccer players of all ages should follow current for spotting possible concussion after a bump or blow to thebrhead. Tell your coach or trainer, get an immediate evaluation (on the field ifbrduring a game or practice) or see a doctor as soon as possible. Do not return to play until the recommendedbrrecovery time has passed.
Train Smart to Avoid Injury
According to research by the Federation Internationalbrde Football Association (FIFA), athletes should pay attention to athleticbrconditioning, stretching and warm ups to help avoid all types of injuries.brSoccer players should follow a training program that supports specific musclebrgroups and movement types so often connected to soccer injury.
Keep your workouts balanced and keep abrreasonable pace with regular breaks. If going back to the sport after anbrextended break, sports medicine experts recommend taking it easy until yourbrbody adjusts. Athletic trainers recommend aerobic conditioning, strengthbrtraining, and agility training.
Additional Soccer Safety Tips
· brKeep cleats and shin guards in good conditionbrand fitted correctly to avoid blisters.
· brSee your doctor for a pre-season physicalbrexamination.
· brBeware of poor field conditions that canbrincrease injury rates.
· brUse fixed goals when possible (mobile goals maybrfall on players).
· brStay hydrated and avoid heat-related illness.
· brConsider taking at least one season off eachbryear to avoid “burn out.”
Finally, when you suffer any type of sports injury, contactbryour local urgent care center for prompt diagnostic testing and treatment whenbryour regular primary care physician is not available. Active athletes may alsobrwant to consult a sports medicine professional or athletic trainer with ongoingbrconcerns about soccer injuries or injury prevention strategies. By stayingbrhealthy on and off the soccer field, you greatly improve enjoyment of yourbrfavorite Southlake sporting event.
For more information about the flu, visit the E-Care Emergency Center blog.
Josh Prickett, MD, is currently medical director for North Tarrant location of E-Care Emergency Center in North Richland Hills. Dr. Prickett graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical School and has been practicing emergency care in Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas since 1989. He has been married to his wife Carin for 29 years. They have a son Jonathan, a daughter Whitney, and a son-in-law John. Dr. Prickett and his family are active at Gateway Church in Southlake and love being a part of the Southlake community.