Go for Your Goals: Soccer Injury Prevention and Recovery With Dr. Johnson

Soccer enthusiasm and participation have never been higher in the U.S. The world’s biggest soccer championship is in full swing — featuring games right here in Kansas City. From complete beginners to seasoned pros like Matt Freese of the U.S. Men’s National Team, soccer has something special to offer just about everyone, including tremendous health benefits.

A Game That’s Good for the Heart

If you’ve ever been in the stands at a professional soccer game or cheered on your student-athlete, you’ve likely been amazed by how your favorite players can run for 90 minutes and still have energy to spare.

By constantly running, changing directions and dodging other players, soccer players are building up their body’s endurance.In fact, soccer is fantastic for heart health. It’s a high-intensity game that helps strengthen the heart, reduces blood pressure and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Soccer also requires a vast range of motions that most of us would never use in day-to-day

life. Kicking, twisting, turning and sometimes even tumbling lead to improved mobility and flexibility. Importantly, players also learn to interact and communicate with others and how to work together as a team.

Four Common Injuries on the Field

No matter how many benefits come with playing such an active sport, it’s also important to note that — all too often — injuries are also part of the game.

“As a primarily lower-body sport, soccer has a large number of lower extremity injuries,” says AdventHealth South Overland Park family medicine physician Andrew Johnson, MD.

Common soccer injuries mostly affect the lower extremities due to the sport’s high-intensity running, darting and contact. Dr. Johnson explains that four key soccer injuries include:

• ACL/meniscus tears in the knee
• Ankle sprains
• Hamstring and groin strains
• Shin splints

Sometimes, even upper-body and serious head injuries can happen on the soccer field, too.

Heads Up: Concussions Are All Too Common

In addition to lower-body injuries, there’s more emphasis than ever on soccer’s concussion rate, which is second only to football among high school sports.

“As we get better and better at diagnosing concussions, we’re finding more of them within

the game of soccer. ‘Header’ plays (redirecting a ball in the air with the head) account for 25 to 30% of soccer-related concussions. But the most frequent mechanism of injury is player-to-player contact. Being a goalkeeper is also a risk factor for concussion,” says Dr. Johnson.

Some potential warning signs of a concussion include:

• Abnormal eye movement
• Abnormally sized or uneven pupils
• Blurred or double vision
• Confusion
• Eye strain
• Light sensitivity
• Loss of consciousness
• Trouble focusing

“The U.S. Soccer Federation bans heading for children younger than 10 years of age and limits heading in practice for ages 11 to 13 years old to help reduce concussion rates,” says Dr. Johnson.

Take a Timeout for Injury

Players who are hurt should stop playing immediately so their injury can be assessed. Minor injuries, such as sprains, may improve with rest, ice, compression and elevation, which are some of the best recovery strategies for athletes at any level. However, players shouldn’t be afraid to see a healthcare provider even if they think it might be minor.

“Sometimes, athletes don’t know how serious their injury is. Seeing a sports medicine physician can help guide return-to-play decisions and treatment plans based on a physical exam, symptoms and imaging. If an athlete feels that an injury is holding them back from performing their best, it’s time to be evaluated,” says Dr. Johnson.

When to Get Back in the Game

No matter how much players may want to rejoin their teammates and get back on the field after an injury, returning too soon could make a bad situation even worse.

“The main concern when returning a player to sport is player safety. Returning to play after an injury involves sports-specific movements and on-field training with athletic trainers and coaches to ensure players are close to recovered and feel confident enough to return to play fully,” says Dr. Johnson.

Here to Help Every Soccer Fan Feel Their Best

Whether you’re playing in the backyard with the kids or cheering on your favorite team on the world stage, soccer unites us all, and we’re here to help you feel healthy and stay well through every challenge and triumph. To find a physician offering sports-related care like Dr. Johnson, explore our primary care in the Kansas City Metro area.