Is Your Child At Risk For These Common Soccer Injuries?
Parents have the best intentions for their children when it comes to sports. And of course, we never want to see our child sidelined because of an injury. Learn about the most common soccer injuries and how physical therapy can help your child get back in the game when they happen.
What Is The Sport With The Most Injuries?
In addition to basketball, football, baseball and cheerleading, soccer sits among the top of the list of sports with the most injuries.
Soccer is a popular sport among children throughout all of New Jersey. In fact, soccer is one of the nation’s most popular sports. Building teamwork skills, while developing balance, coordination, cardiovascular endurance and agility, soccer offers benefits to both serious and casual players. Between summer camps, indoor winter options and regular fall and spring seasons, soccer players have year-round options to play.
But, like all sports, soccer can take its toll.
Any level.
Any age.
Any position.
Injuries are bound to happen. Movements such as kicking, sprinting, fast changes in direction and contact can lend themselves to certain types of injuries commonly seen in soccer players.
Below, we will highlight the most common soccer injuries we see at Twin Boro.
What Are the Most Common Soccer Injuries?
The most common soccer injuries occur to the lower extremities. While some injuries are caused from impact, such as a strike to the leg or a collision, most are considered overuse injuries such as shin splints.
Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprains are one of the most common soccer injuries we see in soccer players at our NJ locations. This occurs when the ligaments in the ankle joint are overstretched or even torn from twisting, tripping or turning rapidly when the foot is planted.
If your child sprains their ankle in soccer, physical therapy exercises should begin as soon as possible (within the first 3-7 days) to prevent stiffness. Treatment usually involves calf and heel stretches, as well as strengthening exercises to prevent the injury from reoccurring.
ACL Tear
A tear in the ACL, anterior cruciate ligament, is another common soccer injury, especially among female athletes, due to several reason which among them is the alignment of females hips and knees. ACL, as well as MCL, injuries tend to occur with movements involving rapid change in direction such as suddenly kicking the ball across the body, landing awkwardly after a jump or fall, or any forceful twist to the knee.
If your child experiences an ACL or MCL tear, they will most likely feel or hear a popping sensation in the knee followed by severe pain. Initially treatment usually involves gentle knee mobility exercises and stretches followed by strengthening exercises and taping to help support the injured area.
Shin Splints
When an athletes’ legs are overused or overloaded too quickly with excessive running or jumping, shin splints tend to occur. Our physical therapists recommend immediate ice treatment to reduce inflammation, gentle manual therapy techniques and rest from the high-impact activity. Preventative measures will include strengthening, stretching, and agility exercises. Physical therapist can help to identify and correct training errors such a possibly replacing old, worn out sneakers
Hamstring Strain
A pulled hamstring results from a tear in the muscle in the back of the thigh responsible for controlling the leg as the foot swings forward during walking and running. This injury often occurs when soccer players are sprinting or engaging in an explosive movement such as kicking. Symptoms can include tightness in the back of the leg, difficulty with walking, pain and muscle spasms.
If your child pulls their hamstring, physical therapy treatment should begin as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the strain, initial treatment will include gentle movement, cold therapy and active compression to helps promote healing and reduce the pain associated with inflammation.
Preventing Common Soccer Injuries with Physical Therapy
Physical therapy for common soccer injuries often involves hands-on rehabilitation, unique treatment protocols, and prevention education for athletes of all ages. Each treatment will be tailored to the injury and the individual suffering the injury. No matter the type of soccer injury, the goal of our physical therapists is to find the root cause of your child’s injury, treat any pain and build physical strength and motor control to help prevent future injuries.
Get your child back in the game with the Twin Boro sports injury rehab program.
Read More about Soccer Injuries
Why Choose Twin Boro Physical Therapy
Twin Boro has provided NJ residents with high quality physical therapy and rehab for more than 38 years! Our award-winning approach, proven results and reputation set us apart. We deliver only the highest standard of care with our unique One2Four approach. By incorporating the One2Four program into each patient’s program, the latest and most reliable scientific research and techniques are incorporated into effective evidence-based practice.
It’s no surprise that Twin Boro Physical Therapy has also been voted the best physical therapy practice in New Jersey by the readers of mycentraljersey.com.
