Concussions have ended or put on hold the careers of notable soccer players including U.S. Women's National Team former captain Lori Chalupny and Swedish standout Hanna Ljungberg. Head trauma also forced the retirements of New England Revolution player Taylor Twellman and D.C. United's Bryan Namoff and Alecko Eskandarian. Though head injuries are a risk in soccer, you can return to the game after a concussion with careful medical management.
Case Studies
Either the ball or collisions with other players can injure the head and cause a concussion. Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause wears a fabric helmet after taking a sharply struck ball in the head in June 2011. He was unprepared for the impact and rattled by it, eventually missing three games. Chalupny was accidentally kicked in the head in 2006 in a game against France and accidentally punched in the jaw in 2008 versus Norway. In 2006 at the Algarve Cup, Ljungberg was flattened by France's aggressive goalkeeper in a sickening collision that left the player, considered one of the greatest female players of her generation, unconscious on the ground. She returned to the game but with less success than before her injury.
Symptoms
A concussion is a brain injury that may affect your memory, concentration and problem-solving, FIFA.com notes. You do not always lose consciousness, despite popular belief. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness and unsteadiness. You may be confused or unsure of the time. If you have any symptoms, do not return to play. Seek medical assessment, do not go off on your own and do not drive, advises FIFA, the international governing body of soccer.
Assessment
FIFA.com provides a pocket card, reproduced online, with guidance on diagnosing a concussion. In addition to headache, neck pain or nausea, feelings of being slow or in a fog, as well as confusion or drowsiness, suggest a concussion. Irritability and sensitivity to light or noise also indicate a possible injury. If you are a coach or trainer, ask the player which half of the game it is, who last scored, what team she played last week and if her team won the last game. Ask the player as well to stand heel to toe with the dominant foot in front, eyes closed, hands on hips, for 20 seconds. More than five errors such as opening the eyes, lifting the foot or heel or taking the hands off the hip suggest a concussion.
Rejoining the Team
You need to rest for several days, avoiding tasks that require concentration, such as video games, learning and texting. The first day after the concussion must involve no activity. After symptoms subside, proceed to light exercise such as walking or riding a stationary bike. If symptoms return, return to complete rest. The next stage of recovery is soccer-specific training, such as sprints, intervals, agility ladders and strength training. Stage four is non-contact training drills, followed -- after medical clearance -- by full-contact training, FIFA states. If all goes well, you can resume participation in games after a week or more of recovery.
References
- Brain Damage Blog; Women's Soccer Champ Chalupny Takes Leave Over Concussion-Related Issues; Gordon Johnson; February 2010
- UEFA.com; Sweden United in Praise of Ljungberg; Sujay Dutt; August 2009
- ESPN Chicago; Chicago Fire's Logan Pause Wears Headgear after Concussion; Associated Press; July 2011
- YouTube; Algarve Cup 2006; March 2006
- FIFA.com; Players' Health: Head
- US Soccer; Concussions; Daryl A. Rosenbaum; August 2010
