Rutherford Physio & Sports Injury Clinic located in Vaughan/Richmond Hill would like to share most common injuries in soccer and tips to prevent them.
Soccer is a great way to build endurance, improve speed, and promote fitness. Soccer is a relatively safe activity, with an injury rate of one-fifth to one-half of that in American football. But you can still get hurt. Soccer involves quick start-and-stop motions and physical contact, which can lead to injury.
Common Soccer Injuries:
Risk of injury is no reason to not play soccer. Soccer players just need to be aware of the risks and know what steps they can take to play as safely as possible.
Common soccer injuries include:
Ankle sprain
Knee sprain
Calf strains
Clavicle fracture
Foot fracture
Wrist fracture
Kneecap bursitis
Meniscal tear
Concussion
As with any sport, a good warm up is important to an injury-free soccer experience. Sports medicine experts recommend the following routine:
Cardio: Start with a few laps to get your heart rate up.
Stretching: Focus particularly on the lower body and hips, and don't forget to stretch your neck gently.
Passing: Begin with short distance passing, and then move gradually to longerdistance drives.
Shooting: Work up from lighter, shorter shots on net to harder shots.
Sprinting: Include a few short distance sprints.
Finally, don't play if you are extremely tired and therefore more prone to injury. Hydration and good nutrition will help stave off early fatigue.
