Ankle sprain is one of the most common soccer injuries experienced, especially in young adults. An ankle sprain can sideline you from the sport for some time while your injured ligaments heal. Knowing the most common circumstances by which soccer injuries occur can help you prevent ankle sprains. If you do experience a soccer-related ankle sprain, taking certain steps can help you heal faster.
Significance
Ankle sprains can range from mild to severe and signify the affectation of the ankle ligaments that connect muscle to bone. Mild sprains represent a partial ligament tear, while a severe sprain is a complete tear -- which may necessitate surgery. Mild sprains are characterized by tenderness and swelling, while a severe sprain means you cannot place your weight on the ankle.
Contact Injury
One manner in which ankle sprains occur when playing soccer is a contact injury. Soccer can be a physical sport in which players collide with each other. This is especially true if you are dribbling the ball down the field and a defender slides into your lead ankle. This causes your ankle to roll in, resulting in an ankle sprain.
Jump Injury
While heading a ball is not always used in a soccer game, the impact of the jump -- or the possibility of landing on another player -- can lead to an ankle sprain. The landing can cause your ankle to roll in, straining the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. A similar injury method is planting your foot on an uneven surface, such as a hole or divot in the ground. This causes you to plant the foot unevenly, which can lead to twisting or bending of the ankle.
Preventive Techniques
While you cannot prevent a player from running into you, you can take preventive techniques to reduce your injury risk by strengthening muscles that promote balance in the ankles. Examples include balancing on one leg while tossing the ball back and forth. Using a balance board to perform squats and stepping on and off the balance board can help you to strengthen your muscles by putting your body in similar situations when soccer-related injuries occur.
Treatment
If you do experience an ankle sprain on the field, it's important to rest your muscles and ligaments following injury. Failing to rest for enough time makes you more vulnerable to re-injury. In addition to resting, elevate the ankle and take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to reduce pain and swelling. Wrapping the ankle with a bandage or wearing a brace also can help to enhance stability in the joint as your ligaments heal.
