Share

Most common soccer injuries

accreditation
iStock

Soccer is one of the most popular amateur sports in the world, yet it is not without its risks.

Injury to the ankle

The most common injuries soccer players are prone to are lower-body ones resulting from a kick to the leg or twisting of the knee, or can result from overuse of a muscle, tendon, or bone. 

So which one is safer – indoor or outdoor soccer? According to the research, they both carry the same risk, with the most common injury being to the ankle. 

Read: Training to avoid soccer injuries

A study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine focused on the injury rates and risk factors for injury in adolescent indoor and outdoor soccer. The researchers studied a group of teenagers aged 13–17 years and after the 20-week study concluded they found that  "there was no significant difference between injury rates by age group or gender in indoor soccer compared with outdoor soccer".

Common soccer injuries

Sprains and strains are the most common lower extremity injuries.  The severity can vary from a cartilage tear to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains in the knee which often require surgery.

Read: Sport star injuries: We all love a great comeback!

Other lower body injuries include:

- Shin splints (soreness in the calf)

- Patellar tendinitis (pain in the knee)

- Achilles tendinitis (pain in the back of the ankle)

- Groin pulls 

- Thigh and calf muscle strains

- Stress fractures 

Although more rare than lower body injuries, the upper body can also suffer injury from falling and landing incorrectly or colliding with another player which can result wrist sprains, wrist fractures, and shoulder dislocations.

Concussion is a risk in any sport and soccer is no exception and can occur from a fall or a collision with another player. 

Treatment of injuries

While the majority of soccer injuries are minor, effectively treated with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression and elevation), others may require evaluation from a medical professional before continuing with the game.

Injuries such as tendinitis as a result of overuse can be effectively treated with rest from soccer for as long as necessary. 

Read more:

Symptoms of sports injuries

Causes of sports injuries

Preventing sports injuries

References:
Preventing soccer injuries; Rob Burger, MD, Kenneth Fine, MD; Stop Sports Injuries; http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Soccer_Injury_Prevention.aspx
Common soccer injuries. Diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation; Sports Med. 1997 Jan;23(1):21-32; Primary Care Sports Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, USA; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9017857 
Risk Factors for Injury in Indoor Compared With Outdoor Adolescent Soccer; Carolyn A. Emery, PT, PhD* and  Willem H. Meeuwisse, MD, PhD; From the Sport Medicine Centre, Roger Jackson Centre for Health and Wellness Research, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; The American Journal of Sports Medicine; http://ajs.sagepub.com/content/34/10/1636

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE