Treatment and Prevention
Treatment
Each injury requires slightly different treatment methods depending on the type, but most consist of rest, ice, and compression [4]. For a strain, physical therapy for strengthening and stretching to release tension is added to the treatment plan [4]. To treat a sprain, rehabilitation is incorporated into the athlete’s routine to improve their function, and they are typically not able to return for a minimum of 7-10 days [4]. For a concussion, sports without helmets or padded gear should be added, in addition to adhering to the rules more carefully to avoid head injuries. In a groin injury, NSAIDS (analgesics) and rest are attached to the treatment plan due to discomfort [4]. To treat a knee injury, depending on severity, may need surgical reconstruction [4]. A knee injury may warrant a derotation brace, progressive weight-bearing, neuromuscular and proprioceptive training, and strengthening exercises [5]. Lastly, to treat an ankle injury, range of motion exercises may help decrease the risk of recurring injury and progressive weight bearing, strengthening, and a brace depending on severity [4]. These treatment plans are standard for many injuries, but each athlete will respond to treatment differently.


Prevention
Most players continue playing soccer before fully healing, leaving them vulnerable to recurring injury and weakening the area over time. The best plan for an athlete after an injury is to follow a Return To Play (RTP) protocol presented by their doctors or athletic trainers. An RTP protocol is administered for each recovery phase over 24 hours [2]. First, they are allowed very little activity, then moderate, then slowly adding weightlifting or regular exercise back into their routine [2]. This prevents the athlete from returning too early and worsening their injuries. Each player needs prevention and rehabilitation plans catered to their individual needs as everyone will respond differently to treatment. However, a few points in prevention are universal: rules need to be enforced better, the number of matches and practices per week must be monitored, protective gear must be worn, and coaches should be educated to reduce recurring injury rates [5]. Conditioning can also affect athletes’ recurring injury rates, decreasing them with preseason conditioning or increasing them with year-round conditioning. Finally, the best prevention methods are a structured warm-up, such as the FIFA 11 warm up, to prepare the body for exercise and a cool-down to recover from the exertion, drastically reducing the amount of injuries in soccer [5]. Players may also benefit from routine prevention, even when they have rehabilitated their previous injury.
Citations
[2] Hubertus, Vanessa, et al. “Management of Concussion in Soccer.” Acta Neurochirurgica, vol. 161, no. 3, 28 Jan. 2019, pp. 425–433, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03807-6. Accessed 11 Aug. 2024.
[4] Tucker, Andrew M. “Common Soccer Injuries Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation.” Sports Medicine, vol. 23, no. 1, Jan. 1997, pp. 21–32, https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199723010-00003. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.​​​​
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[5] Junge, Astrid, and Jiri Dvorak. “Soccer Injuries.” Sports Medicine, vol. 34, no. 13, 2004, pp. 929–938, https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434130-00004. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
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