Soccer Injuries

Soccer Injuries, Always Heartbreaking.

Soccer Injuries are inevitable for every soccer player seeing how this game is very physically demanding type of sport.

Every player has a soccer related injury at some point in their career, professional or amateur.

It only depends how severe these injuries are when they do happen.

Injuries in soccer occur when muscle or ligament tissue is overused, or when another player causes the injury by tackling recklessly.

Most common and dangerous soccer injuries come from players injuring themselves by twisting or landing awkwardly on their feet.

Some injuries in soccer are worse than others, and should be treated differently, depending on the severity of the injury.

Knowing what to do and how to treat soccer related injuries makes the difference in players recovery time and preventing future injuries to the best of ones ability.

Most common soccer related injuries can be treated with simple method of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).

I also want to mention that a lot of injuries occur because of players fitness and the physical nature of the game, requiring constant sprints and stops in different directions.

Fit players have muscles and ligaments that are developed to withstand the constant strain put on them, causing less injuries during game or practice.

Most Common Soccer Injuries
Heading Injury in Soccer

Heading injuries rarely happen from heading the soccer ball.

There have been some studies done around heading the soccer ball and injuries that come from it. These studies don't accept or deny head injuries from heading the soccer ball.

Most head injuries occur when two players attempt to head the ball, but instead they end up clashing their heads causing bruises, cuts, broken nose or a concussion.

When it comes to head injuries, my advice is to seek professional help right away.

Lower Back Soccer Injury

Lower back injuries usually occur due to ligament or muscle strain from overuse, or simply not warming up before starting to play the game or practice.

Lower Back injury can follow the player for a long time if not treated correctly. 

Applying the RICE method for at least 1-2 weeks before returning to practice or playing is recommended.

If the injury persists or gets worse, its best to seek professional help.

Groin Soccer Injury

Groin is one of the most common soccer related injuries that prevents player from any sudden movements on the field. This injury occurs to every player several times throughout their soccer career.

There is no way to avoid groin injury other than stretching and warming up before playing with the ball. 

Groin injury can keep the player off the field for several weeks, if not months for proper recovery.

Best way to treat groin soccer injury is to rest and ONLY come back when there is a full range of motion in the players leg, without any pain.

Warm up and stretching is the best way to prepare groins for game or practice.

Hamstring Injury in Soccer

Hamstring injury usually occurs when players are not physically fit and overuse of the hamstring muscle during the acceleration and deceleration during the game or practice.

Getting in the habit of warming up and stretching before any soccer related activity is the best way to prevent many soccer injuries. 

Pulled hamstring has different severity levels. If it does happen, cease playing immediately and apply RICE.

Once the player cools down, real severity can be felt.  

Hamstring injury is treated by resting and allowing hamstring tissue to fully heal.

It can take up to 8 weeks for the hamstring to fully heal, depending on the severity of the injury.

Soccer Knee Injuries

Knee injury is perhaps the most serious injury in soccer. Soccer knee injury can keep the player off the field for several months and in some cases indefinitely.

Knee soccer injuries occur with sudden movements, change of direction and sudden stopping.

Soccer knee injuries happen due to overuse of knee ligament tissue and not warming up before playing soccer.

Severity of this injury can range from light ligament sprain which only requires rest, and the use of RICE method for 2-4 weeks, while severe ligament sprain or tear will require surgery and at least 6 months of physical therapy  before returning to practice.

Wearing a knee brace on a weak knee is a good way to offer support to knee ligaments.

Soccer Ankle Injuries

Ankle soccer injury is another very common soccer injury that occurs when the player twists his ankle inward or outward, causing the ligaments to stretch or tear.

In most cases swelling and discoloration will occur. 

Treating ankle injury with RICE method and writing the alphabet with the injured ankle is a good way to getting back to playing.

If the ankle feels like there may be a fracture involved, its always best to immobilize the foot and go see a doctor.

Players should consider returning to playing when the swelling is gone and they can comfortably run on the injured ankle.

More Severe Soccer Injuries

There are more severe soccer injuries such as fractures, dislocations or Achilles heel injury, but they happen rarely and require much longer time for recovery (6 to 12 months).

Worst thing a player can do when he/she feels like an injury occurred is to keep playing. This may cause much more damage, leading to longer recovery time.

STOP PLAYING is the best course of action when player feels like an injury has occurred.

Immediately apply ice and compress the injury until you learn the severity of the injury.

Hearing a crack or pop when injury happens, means that there may be a chance of a torn ligament or broken bone. Immediately seek professional help.

Soccer Injury Treatment
with R.I.C.E.

R.I.C.E. is the best method of treatment for most soccer injuries.

Rest - Ice - Compress - Elevate

Listen to your body. Contact a doctor if the injury seems more severe.

For more information on soccer injuries visit Stop Sports Injuries.

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