According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there nearly 25,000 ankle sprains that occur in the United States each day. A large number of these sprains are the result of participation in sports -- including soccer. A sprain occurs when you twist or roll your foot outside its normal range of motion. In soccer, the most common type of sprain is in inversion sprain -- or an injury to the outside of the ankle.
Symptoms
Chances are you will know exactly when you sustain an ankle sprain during a soccer game or practice. This may occur as the result of tripping or falling as you go to kick the ball, sliding on a wet playing field or coming across uneven ground as you run. Ankle sprains can range from mild to severe. You may slightly stretch your ankle ligaments, tear them or completely rupture your ankle ligaments. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, lack of movement in your ankle and difficulty bearing weight on your ankle.
Diagnosis
As a soccer player, receiving a diagnosis of your injury is important to your recovery and your return to the game. Visit your doctor if you believe you have sprained your ankle. Your doctor is likely to take an x-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture in your foot or ankle. A physical examination will also be performed to determine which ligaments have been injured. During this exam, your doctor will move your ankle in a variety of positions. If your doctor suspects a severe injury to the ligaments in your ankles, an MRI may be ordered to make a correct diagnosis and to determine the severity of your injury.
Treatment
The immediate treatment for an ankle sprain is to stop playing soccer and implement the RICE method. The RICE method involves resting, icing, compressing and elevating your injured ankle. After visiting with your physician, a further treatment plan will be developed. This plan may include physical therapy to increase range of motion in your ankle, immobilization as your ankle heals, pain medications to help alleviate any pain felt by your sprained ankle and possible surgery to reconstruct your ligaments in the event of severe sprain.
Prevention
While it is not possible to prevent all ankle sprains that occur in soccer, there are measures you can take to decrease your chances of spraining your ankle. You can perform strengthening exercises to strengthen the muscles of your lower leg, foot and ankle. This can help reduce the chances of your ankle turning inward as you run. You can also increase flexibility in your ankles by strengthening your calf muscles. Wearing proper shoes while playing soccer can also help reduce your risk of an ankle sprain. Shoes should fit properly and be replaced when they become worn. You can also consider the use of an ankle brace if you have weak ankles or a history of ankle sprains.
