Common Soccer Injuries

By Rachelle D. Leong

FRACTURES DISLOCATIONS ANKLE INJURIES MUSCLE STRAINS MUSCLE CONTUSIONS MUSCLE CRAMPS

 A break or crack in a bone

CLOSED

OPEN

BACK

Signs and Symptoms

Swelling Deformity Pain and tenderness Loss of use Grating sensation History of the injury

First aid
Determine what happened and the location of pain, numbness, tingling sensation Gently remove clothing surrounding the injured area Do not move the injured area unless necessary Check for swelling, deformity, tenderness, guarding, and open wounds

 Control bleeding and cover all wounds before splinting In open fractures, do not attempt to push bone ends back beneath the skin surface, simply cover them with a sterile dressing Check for a pulse, sensations, and capillary refill. Compare area with an uninjured part

 Position the injured part slightly above the hearts level

Analgesics can help reduce the pain associated with an injury Cold packs help control swelling and pain but avoid overuse because of frostbite BACK

COMPOUND ANKLE DISLOCATION

 Occurs in a joint when it is pushed beyond its normal range of motion

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Deformity of a joint Severe pain in a joint Swelling around the joint Discoloration around the joint Inability to move the injured area Appearance differing from comparable uninjured joint

WHAT TO DO?
Check the pulse, sensation, and capillary refill of the injured extremity Splint as if a fracture Do not move the joint since nerve and blood vessel damage could happen BACK

SPLINT
- Any device used to immobilize a fracture TYPES OF SPLINTS Improvised splint pillow, folded newspaper, magazine, cardboard, wooden board or any other object that can provide stability Victims body injured part to uninjured part (ex. Injured finger to adjacent finger; legs tied together; injured arm tied to chest)

Commercial splint

 An unnatural twisting motion of the ankle joint can happen when the foot is planted awkwardly, when the ground is uneven, or when an unusual amount of force is applied to the joint.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Ask the victim Did you try to stand on it?
Press your fingers along the ankle bones. Pain and tenderness over the bones at either the back edge or tip of either the ankle knob bone or on the inside bones may indicate a broken bone

 Ankle sprains tend to swell only on one side of the foot.

Swelling on both sides of the ankle usually accompanies a broken bone

R Rest

I Ice

C- Compression

E Elevation BACK

MUSCLE STRAINS
muscle pull
Occurs when the muscle is stretched beyond its normal range of motion, resulting in a fiber tear.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

A sharp pain immediately after the injury Extreme tenderness when area is felt Severe weakness and loss of function of the injured part The sound of a snap when the tissue is torn

BACK

FIRST AID
Attempt to relieve a cramp by gently stretching the affected muscle Apply ice to the cramped muscle Relax the affected muscle by applying pressure to it Pinching the upper lip hard (an acupressure technique) has been advocated for reducing calf muscle leg cramping Drink water

MUSCLE CONTUSIONS
bruise Results from a blow to a muscle FIRST AID: R-I-C-E BACK

MUSCLE CRAMPS
Muscles can go into an uncontrolled spasm and contraction, resulting in severe
pain and a restriction or loss of movement

INJURY LOCATED IN A JOINT?

CAUSED BY A BLOW TO A MUSCLE?

DEFORMED APPEARANCE OF JOINT?

STRAIN

CONTUSION

SPRAIN

DISLOCATION CHECK C - Circulation

Apply cold

Compression by elastic bandage but not too tight

S - Sensation M - Movement

Elevation of part above level with heart

No heat until 48 hours after injury

STABILIZE JOINT AS IF FRACTURED

Seek medical attention

If recuperation (healing) seems long, consult a physician

PLANNING YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Use synthetic, nonabsorbent balls on wet playing fields. Leather balls can become waterlogged and very heavy when wet, putting players at high risk for injury.

 Don't crawl or sit on the goal or hang from the net. Injuries and deaths have occurred when goals have fallen onto players.

 Soccer goals should be well padded and properly secured. Padding the goal decreases the incidence of head injuries when the goalie and other team members collide with the posts.

 The playing surface must be kept in good condition. Holes on the playing field should be filled, bare spots reseeded, and debris removed.

PREPARATION
Always take time to warm up and stretch, especially your hips, knees, thighs and calves. Be knowledgeable about first aid and be able to administer it for minor injuries, such as facial cuts, bruises, strains, or sprains. Be prepared for emergency situations an d have a plan to reach medical personnel to treat injuries such as concussions, dislocations, elbow contusions, wrist or finger sprains, and fractures.

 Hydrate adequately waiting until you are thirsty is often too late to hydrate properly
Avoid overuse injuries more is not always better! Many sports medicine specialists believe that it is beneficial to take at least one season off each year. This will reduce the risk of injury and help avoid "burn-out"

DRESS APPROPRIATELY
Wear shin guards to help protect your lower legs. Soccer tournament records have shown that most players who sustained lower leg injuries were not protected by adequate shin guards.

 Wear shoes with molded cleats or ribbed soles. Shoes with screw-in cleats often are associated with a higher risk of injury. However, shoes with screw-in cleats should be worn when more traction is needed, such as on a wet field with high grass.

Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.