Don’t let these common soccer injuries keep you benched

By: Freddy A. Achecar, Jr., M.D., Anthony C. Carantzas, M.D., Robin L. Dennis, M.D., Eduardo J. Olmedo, M.D., and Gary S. Simon, M.D., Sports Medicine Specialists, Resurgens Orthopaedics 

With buzz around the FIFA World Cup ramping up and the summer season off to a sunny start, many Atlanta residents are grabbing their soccer balls and hitting the fields. Whether you’re playing for a local recreational league or just kicking around the ball with a friend, it’s important to be aware of common soccer injuries and ways to avoid them.

ACL sprains and tears are very serious and all-too-common injuries sustained by soccer players. The ACL is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. A sprain or tear of this ligament can be caused by rapid change in directions, stopping suddenly, landing incorrectly from a jump, or direct collision involving the knee. While no one can prevent ACL injuries entirely, there are a few things players can keep in mind to minimize their risk: keep the quadriceps and hamstring muscles strong, avoid landing “lock-kneed,” and stop playing when muscles feel fatigued. 

Achilles tendon injuries are also very common among soccer players. The Achilles tendon is located at the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. This tendon is nearly always engaged, as it’s used for running, jumping, and walking. Players should pay close attention to the condition of their Achilles tendon, as an untreated injury in this area can quickly become a chronic, long-term problem. While icing and rest are good temporary fixes for discomfort, the most important part of keeping the Achilles tendon healthy is a regular stretching regimen. Whether you do this on your own, with an athletic trainer, or by visiting a physical therapist, the key is to make stretching part of your athletic routine. 

Shin splints and stress fractures of the tibia are both injuries commonly seen in soccer players. The term "shin splint" refers to inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around the tibia and typically produces diffused pain spread out over the mid to lower third of the leg. A stress fracture of the tibia, on the other hand, is a small crack in the tibia which often produces pain limited to the area directly over the tibia. In general, both injuries are caused when the legs are overworked by repetitive activity or by the sudden increase in physical activity. Players can avoid these injuries by keeping to a slow, gradual increase in physical activity and by diversifying those activities. 

Above all, if you are experiencing serious or prolonged pain from physical activities like soccer, it is important to visit a board-certified orthopaedic physician as soon as possible to avoid worsening conditions.

Resurgens Orthopaedics, Georgia’s largest orthopaedic practice, has 21 offices and six surgery centers throughout metro Atlanta. With 96 physicians, Resurgens provides specialized expertise and broad experience in the areas of sports medicine, joint replacement, neck and back surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, non-operative spine care, hand surgery, arthroscopic surgery, epidural steroid injection, general orthopaedics, and trauma care. Resurgens provides comprehensive musculoskeletal care in a single location, from injury diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation services. Learn more at www.resurgens.com. 

Restore your health. Energize your life. Get back in motion. Resurgenize!