Like any sport, Soccer entails its own set of injuries and whilst every parent and player does what they can to prevent these through the use of equipment and modified rules, accidents do happen.
Here are the top three injuries to be aware of in the wonderful game, whether you’re an elite, or a backyard pro.
Sprains and Strains
We hear about them all the time, and they can be very painful to anyone at their mercy. In Soccer, sprains and strains usually occur in the lower half of the body, and around the joins – typically, ankle and knee.
A sprain or strain is pulling or minor tearing of the ligaments, tendons and soft tissue around joints and connecting around muscles. These usually happen due to hyper-extension, twisting or rolling an ankle or falling awkwardly on a knee.
Regardless of how they happen, sprains and strains are painful, and usually show up as inflamed, red, warm and sore to touch. Check in with your physiotherapist to make sure it’s nothing more severe (especially if it isn’t improving over a couple of days).
Overuse injuries
Extremely common amongst elite players who train several hours a week and don’t have much time off during the season. These can occur as tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon) in the knee, shin splints (inflammation of the soft tissue down the tibia a.k.a shin bone) or even stress fractures.
If you are an elite player, it is vital you are ensuring an adequate amount of rest time and ice-management to help your body recover. If you are training frequently, it can be necessary to check in with your physiotherapist often to help prevent overuse injuries before they actually occur.
Impact injuries
These happen as a result of another object impacting your body. Easily, one of the most painful ways to be injured in soccer, as usually these are a result of another human or their studded boots.
Minor to serious impact injuries usually result in contusion (bruising). More serious impact injuries can result in a fracture or serious contusion (bleeding within the muscle). It is best to judge impact injuries by the level of pain the player is in, the amount of inflammation and mobility they have post impact, and the type of impact. Any impact to the head, neck or back should be treated seriously.
Our team are here for you
At Progressive Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy, our highly experienced team of physiotherapists have rehabilitated many patients successfully after sustaining a sporting injury. We offer the support and guidance you need to achieve your pre-injury status and to get on with life as soon as possible.
If you would like further information about our customised rehabilitation programs for sporting injuries, please feel free to contact the clinic today by calling (02) 4721 7798 or by emailing info@progressiverehab.com.au. You can also click here to book an initial consultation.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Penrith, we are able to assess, treat, educate and manage all musculoskeletal injuries. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise prescription and self management techniques tailored to your specific needs. We utilise evidence based treatments to maximise your outcomes.
USEFUL LINKS
CONTACT US
Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.
Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.
Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.
As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.
Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024.
Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.
Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).
Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.
Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools.
Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.
Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.
Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.
Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.
Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.
Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.
During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.