Soccer Season
is almost here!
If you’re a player or fan of soccer, you probably already know by now there are certain injury risks involved with playing the game. Whether you just play the game for fun or are a seasoned professional, you’re often open to the same types of injuries. These can include aches, bruises, and sprains as well as more serious injuries such as concussions, muscle tears, torn ligaments and broken bones. However, most soccer-related injuries can be treated by the proper physiotherapy techniques and you’ll find yourself back on the field in no time.
One of the most serious soccer injuries is the tearing or rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. The ACL can be torn due to the way the knees pivot when playing the sport. An ACL can be torn when the knee twists or hyper extends in a sudden and violent manner and it often leads to other injuries at the same time such as a torn medial collateral ligament meniscus. Even though the swelling and pain may disappear a few weeks later, the knee could still be unstable and most torn ACL’s require surgery to reconstruct them.
A physiotherapy program can help ease the pain and swelling with ice and electrical stimulation. After surgery, you can gradually begin to exercise until the knee regains full movement. This usually consists of range-of-motion exercises as wells as gentle stretching. In addition, the quadriceps and hamstring muscles will be strengthened as you recover. The Physiotherapist may recommend that you wear a custom ACL brace to keep the knee stable when you return to action, especially if the problem didn’t require surgery. Rehabilitation may last up to six to nine months and follow very detailed post-operative protocol.
About 70 percent of ACL injuries in athletes happen through mechanisms such as pivoting, cutting, sidestepping, out of control play or awkward landings, while about 30 percent of ACL injuries occur from contact with other players. Our Physiotherapists are able to help you with any injuries that may occur during this soccer season, and can also provide a conditioning program to get you ready
for the season to prevent any injuries from occurring.
If you are a soccer player and are interesting in a conditioning program, or have any injuries you want to fix before the season starts, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with one of our Physiotherapists today!
http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/146524456617
http://spectrumphysiotherapy.com/physiotherapy-for-soccer-injuries/