Common Soccer Injuries

Paul Halford
PA West Soccer Association
 Lower Extremities
Account for 61% - 80.9% of all injuries

Ankle Sprains

Shin Splints

Stress Fractures

Anterior Cruciate ligaments

Quadricep Contusions

Groin Strains
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
Grade 1, 2 & 3

Tx: R.I.C.E.

Seek medical evaluation

Return to practice/game
Can the athlete:
1. Balance on injured ankle, raising up on toes
2. Run in a straight line
3. Running, changing direction
all activities must be pain free

Sidelined for 2 – 6+ weeks

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
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

Return to practice/game
Slowly increase running, running on alternate days.
Maintain healthy diet.
Sidelined 6 – 8 weeks
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

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
 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
1. Run,
2. Run with change of direction
3. Jumping
All activities must be pain free
Sidelined 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
1. Run,
2. Run figure of eight’s around cones

All activities must be pain free

Sidelined 2 –3 weeks
Upper Extremities

Shoulder

Head
 Shoulder

Acromio-clavicular joint
Mechanism: Falling on the shoulder, elbow
or outstretched arm

TX: R.I.C.E. Seek medical evaluation

Return to practice/game

1. Full Range of motion

2. Pain free with running

Sidelined for 2– 3 weeks

 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)
 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
 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

1. Symptom free then start light exercise.

2. Sports specific activity with no contact.
3. Symptom free and clearance from MD then
soccer activities with contact

Sidelined – will depend on severity

Facial injuries

Contusions

Nasal

Teeth
References:

The Physician and Sportsmedicine

Sportsinjuryclinic.net

Principles of Athletic Training..

Dr. David C. Neuschwander, M.D.