Soccer strains and pains

With Australia’s success at the World Cup, soccer, or football as it is increasingly being known, is undergoing considerable popularity. And while the sport has long been both a popular recreational and competitive sport, enjoyed by people of all ages, in the future, it is likely to be the most popular sport in Australia. But, despite its relatively low impact, the sport can cause injuries.

While the sport obviously involves a lot of running, twisting, turning, abrupt change of direction, and powerful kicks are also vitally important to the game. It’s with these quick jarring leg movements that injuries can occur. Groin pulls or quadricep strains are typical to soccer players caused by the demands placed on the lower body throughout the game. Getting a cleat stuck in the grass, stretching one leg out to reach the ball before an opponent, or just turning abruptly can all lead to one of these problems. Another common cause of quadricep strains is having the leg contact a solid surface (i.e. the ground or opponents shin) while still in an actively contracted state. This doesn’t allow for a follow through of the leg to expel the force created by the contracting quadriceps, which in turn leads to tearing of the muscle. Depending on the severity of the problem, icing for 20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling for the first few days, followed by some gentle stretching and progressing to light bike exercise should help to ease the pain. If the pain persists, or worsens, be sure to see a physiotherapist.