Injuries are a common part of soccer, as it is a game played at high speeds with little amounts of padding. Players are involved in collisions, change directions while sprinting at full speed and place a great deal of stress on their body by competing for all 90 minutes of a soccer match. For these reasons, certain types of injury pop up frequently in soccer players.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are very common on the soccer field, many times due to the fact that soccer shoes do not provide much ankle support. When you change directions, land after a jump or plant to strike the ball on the soccer field, you can stretch and or/tear the ligaments off your ankle bone, which is the definition of an ankle sprain. Focusing on ankle strength and either taping your ankle or wearing a brace can help prevent ankle sprains when playing soccer.
Knee Ligament Injuries
One of the most painful injuries is the anterior cruciate ligament tear, which is one of the common injuries seen in soccer players, especially in women. Injuries are not limited to the ACL, as soccer players frequently injure their MCL, PCL and LCL as well. These injuries can happen from contact, such as during a slide tackle, but also commonly happen during a change of direction where too much strain is placed on the knee, causing the ligaments to tear. Stretching and strengthening exercises are extremely important for soccer players to work to prevent knee ligament injuries.
Muscle Strains
Many soccer games last at least 90 minutes, forcing players to place a great deal of stress on their muscles. The two most commonly pulled muscles in soccer players are the hamstring and groin muscles, according to United States Soccer. These muscles, as well as the calf and adductor hip muscles, are all on your lower half of the body and can be pulled when running, kicking or jumping, all common soccer activities.
Concussions
Concussions can frequently happen on the soccer field, especially when players collide when both are attempting to play a ball with their head. If a ball is played at a high velocity and then played with the head, the impact of the ball on your head can cause a minor concussion which can accumulate over time. Goalkeepers are also susceptible to concussions when they slide to make a save, as their body is fully exposed and an errant foot can accidentally strike the goalkeeper's head.
