Football and Soccer Injuries
Football or soccer injuries are part and parcel of playing football/soccer and are inevitable no matter at what level the athlete plays the sport. However, the key to a quick recovery is the knowledge of how to manage the injury to speed up healing.
Abdominal Strain
It is a muscle tear which stems from extreme stretching beyond its natural capabilities. Usually, athletes experience stomach muscle strain leading to pain during sport activities. However, doing stomach exercises can also lead to abdominal strain sometimes. Abdominal strain involves the damage of muscle fibers. Individual feels pain when the muscles are stretched, contracted or touched. Pain experience can range from mild to moderate. Third degree abdominal strain results from the rupture of the abdominal muscle completely. Pain is severe and the individual cannot move without pain experiences.
The damaged muscles may also be herniated as evidenced by bruising or internal tissue bleeding. It is important to immediately place ice pack on the muscle to relieve pain and minimize tissue bleeding. Ice should be wrapped before directly placing on skin to avoid burns. Injured individuals should rest in order to avoid further muscle damage. It is advised that first degree patients rest for 3 weeks, second degree patients for 4 to 6 weeks and third degree patients for 3 months or more.
Achilles Tendonitis
It stems from pain in the Achilles tendon which radiates to the lower calf and heel. The symptom is a pain which becomes more severe during physical activity. The area may also be sensitive to touch and feels stiff after lying down for a long period. The affected tendon can also appear larger compared to the other unaffected one. For pain and swelling, ice packs and Achilles strap help a lot in controlling inflammation.
Sprained Ankle
The damage of soft tissue and ligaments surrounding the ankle makes a sprained ankle. The position of the bones around the ankle makes it very susceptible to inversion injury wherein the ankle becomes twisted inwards. Eversion injury is also possible wherein the ankle becomes twisted outwards. Due to excessive twisting, lateral ligaments outside the ankle are overstretched or damaged.
Sprained ankles are categorized according to the extent and severity of the damage. Third degree ankle sprain involves swelling, dislocation of the joint as well as rupture of the ligament completely. The ankle may appear deformed. Bone injury is not uncommon during very severe trauma. During the initial stages, ice packs applied for twenty minutes every two hours can be very helpful in alleviating pain and swelling.
Facet Syndrome Injury (Back Injury)
A typical sign of Facet Syndrome is pain on one side of the spine that generally worsens by bending towards the affected side of by hyperextension of the back. Stiffness of the back in the morning is another clue. In cases where irritation of the nerve root is present, there would be Sciatica, a condition where pain is felt at the buttocks, the groin or the hamstring region. In severe attacks rest is advised along with Non- Steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs and a postural correction given by a Physiotherapist. In relieving pain and muscle stiffness, warm compress can be applied for not as much as fifteen minutes per application.
Calf Muscle Strain
Calf muscle strain or “pulled calf” occurs when there is a tear on the calf muscle due to excessive stretching. It is very common among athletes since sports like football or soccer, cause extreme force which stretches the calf muscle beyond its capabilities. Depending on the extent and severity of the damage, calf muscle strain is categorized as first, second or third degree. Third degree calf muscle strain involves extensive damage resulting to the complete rupture of the calf muscle. The pain is severe characterized as burning or stabbing. Visible evidences are bruising due to internal tissue bleeding and a large muscle tissue lump above the muscle tear depression.
During the initial stages, cold packs, anti-inflammatory gels and compression bandage will help reduce pain and swelling of the calf muscle as well as stabilize the affected area. It is advised to elevate the calf muscle to limit bleeding and swelling in the torn muscles.
Hamstring Injury
Grade three Hamstring strains are generally very serious injuries. Immediate stabbing pains or burning sensations are felt by the athlete and she is unable to walk without having to endure the pain. With this type, the muscles are completely torn. It is also possible to see a large lump of muscle tissue right above where the muscle tear is. First aid treatment for a Hamstring muscle injury is the RICE protocol: Rice, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
Source: Football Rescue