15 Most Common Soccer Injuries

15 Most Common Soccer Injuries
By Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics.

Elizabeth Quinn Rana Faure/Photodisc/Getty Images Soccer injuries are generally described as being either acute or cumulative. Acute injuries are traumatic, often caused by a fall, blow, or collision between players. Cumulative injuries are those in which repetitive stress on a muscle, joint, or connective tissue triggers progressively worsening aches, pain, and physical impairment.

Knowing how and why they occur is the first step to preventing them.

https://zenodo.org/communities/man-in-love-hd-2021-taiwan-zh-tawes/
https://zenodo.org/communities/man-in-love-hd-2021-jaer-alabasta/
https://zenodo.org/communities/mamaninlope/
https://zenodo.org/communities/memekinlop/
https://www.guest-articles.com/news/how-elon-musk-became-elon-musk-elon-musks-early-years-25-04-2021
 

Knee Injuries
Among the most common injuries in soccer are those that involve the knee. This is because soccer is a sport that not only involves kicking but one that requires players to stop and shift directions quickly. This places extreme rotational stress on the knees as well as the ligaments that support them.

When the stress exceeds the limitation of a ligament, it can cause a sprain or tear. The four cruciate ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint are:

* Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the front of the knee
* Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) at the back of the knee
* Medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inside of the knee
* Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outside of the knee

ACL injuries, or injuries involving the anterior cruciate ligament at the front of the knee, are the most common. Because ligaments are less retractable than muscles or tendons, those in the knees are especially vulnerable to damage.

Injury Grades
Knee injuries can be diagnosed as:

* Grade 1: mild sprain
* Grade 2: partial tear
* Grade 3: complete tear

Cruciate ligament injuries don't always cause pain but typically cause a loud "pop" when they occur. Pain and swelling will develop within 24 hours, followed by the loss of range of motion and tenderness along the joint line.

Another common soccer injury is a meniscus injury. Meniscus injury involves a C-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions the space between the femur and the shin bone (tibia). Meniscus tears are painful and often the result of twisting, pivoting, decelerating, or a sudden impact.

Other Common Injuries
Although many soccer injuries involve the lower extremities, other parts of the body can be injured, as they can be with any other contact sport. These are some of the more common injuries seen in soccer athletes:

* Ankle sprains occur when there is a stretching and tearing of ligaments surrounding the ankle joint.
* Achilles tendonitis is a chronic injury that occurs as a result of overuse and is felt as pain in the back of the ankle.
* Achilles tendon rupture involves the partial or complete tear of the Achilles tendon, often with an audible "pop."
* Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden impact to the head.
* A groin pullis a type of strain that occurs when the muscles of the inner thigh are stretched beyond their limits.
* Hamstring injuries, involving the three back muscles of the thigh, can range from a minor strain to a total rupture.
* Iliotibial band syndrome is an overuse injury involving a tendon called the IT band, connective tissues along the outside of the thigh.
* Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition in which the cartilage under the kneecap is damaged due to injury or overuse.
* Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain, caused by inflammation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes.
* Pulled calf muscle occurs when one of the muscles of the lower leg (either the gastrocnemius or the soleus) are pulled from the Achilles tendon.
* Shin splints describe a variety of painful symptoms that develop in the front of the lower leg, often when training has been intensified or changed.
* Stress fractures are often the result of overuse or repeated impacts on a bone.
* Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon. It generally is associated with overuse but can also be developed when a traumatic injury creates microtears in the muscle fibers.

Preventing Soccer Injuries
Many injuries on the soccer field are the direct result of overuse, overtraining, poor conditioning, or the lack of a proper warm-up. To help reduce the risk of a soccer injury:

* Warm up for at least 30 minutes prior to play, paying special attention to the groin, hip, hamstrings, Achilles tendons, and quadriceps.
* Wear protective gear, including mouth guards, shin guards, eye protection, and knee and elbow pads. Ensure they are properly sized and maintained.
* Check the playing field for anything that could possibly cause an injury, including holes, puddles, broken glass, stones, or debris.
* Avoid playing during inclement weather or immediately after a drenching rain when the field will be especially slick and muddy.
* Give yourself time to heal after an injury, even a relatively minor one. Rushing back too soon increases the risk of re-injury.

Treat your joints with respect, especially if you have tendinitis or other repetitive use injuries. If you have a flare-up, don't take painkillers and try to push through. It is better to sit out a game and avoid a potentially devastating injury.

Thanks for your feedback!

Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.