Common Soccer Injuries

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Common Soccer Injuries
Paul Halford PA West Soccer Association
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Lower Extremities
Account for 61 - 80.9 of all injuries
Ankle Sprains Shin Splints Stress
Fractures Anterior Cruciate ligaments Quadricep
Contusions Groin Strains
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Ankle Injuries
Sprained (twisted) ankle is the most common type
of ankle injury. A sprain is the stretching or
tearing of ligaments
Mechanism Inversion or turning of the foot
inwards Eversion or turning of the
foot outwards
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Grade 1, 2 3
Tx R.I.C.E. Seek medical evaluation
Return to practice/game

• Can the athlete
• Balance on injured ankle, raising up on toes
• Run in a straight line
• Running, changing direction
• all activities must be pain free
• Sidelined for 2 6 weeks

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Shin Splints
Pain in the front of the leg Mechanism Many
causes Generally an overuse injury Can be a
stress fracture
Tx R.I.C.E Seek medical evaluation
Return to Practice/Game Is the athlete pain
free after a prolonged run. Sidelined for 1 2
weeks
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Return to practice/game Slowly increase running,
running on alternate days. Maintain healthy
diet. Sidelined 6 8 weeks
Stress Fracture
Mechanism Overuse injury. Occurs when muscles
become fatigued and unable to absorb added
shock. The muscle then transfers the overload
stress to the bone causing tiny cracks.
TX R.I.C.E seek medical evaluation
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Return to practice/game 1. Knee is symptom
free 2. Performance in functional tests 3.
Psychologically prepared for return.
to activity Sidelined 6 9 months
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Mechanism Can be either contact or non contact
injury Non-contact When the lower leg is
rotated while the foot is planted. E.g running
fast, decelerating and sharply cutting
TX seek medical evaluation
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Quadricep contusion
(Often called a dead leg or charley horse)
Mechanism Blunt force trauma to the
muscle. Graded 1, 2 or 3
Tx R.I.C.E. Seek medical evaluation,
Intense physical therapy for motion Complications
Myositis Osificans

• Return to practice/game
• Run,
• Run with change of direction
• Jumping
• All activities must be pain free
• Sidelined 2 3 weeks

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1. Run, 2. Run figure of eights around
cones All activities must be pain
freeSidelined 2 3 weeks
Groin Strain
Graded 1, 2 or 3
Mechanism Overextension of the groin
TX R.I.C.E. Seek medical evaluation
Return to practice/game
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Upper Extremities
Shoulder Head
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TX R.I.C.E. Seek medical evaluation
Shoulder
Acromio-clavicular joint

Mechanism Falling on the shoulder, elbow or
outstretched arm

• Return to practice/game
• Full Range of motion
• Pain free with running

Sidelined for 2 3 weeks
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Dislocated shoulder
Mechanism A direct blow to the shoulder or fall
TX Immediate reduction by a Physician Recurrence
rate 100 in contact sport .
Return to practice/game If treated
conservatively Full active motion and
strength Sidelined 3 4 weeks 4 6 months (If
surgery)
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Sub-luxation Dead arm syndrome Numbness and
tingling
Mechanism forced abduction with external-rotation
Tx Remove from activity and Ice Seek medical
evaluation
Return to practice/game Full range of motion,
full strength all pain free
Sidelined 1 3 weeks
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Head

• Concussion Slight, Moderate or Severe
• or can be graded 1 - VI
• Mechanism Blow to the head
• Tx Remove from activity immediately
• Seek medical evaluation
• Return to practice/game
• Symptom free then start light exercise.
• Sports specific activity with no contact.
• Symptom free and clearance from MD then soccer
  activities with contact
• Sidelined will depend on severity

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Facial injuries Contusions Nasal Teeth
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References The Physician and Sportsmedicine Spo
rtsinjuryclinic.net Principles of Athletic
Training.. Dr. David C. Neuschwander, M.D.