Preventing Common Youth Soccer Injuries

From young childhood, through adolescence, Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the US. Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity of soccer, there has been an increasing injury rate for youth soccer players. While injuries to the muscles and joints of the legs are most common, concussions are possibly the most concerning injury, especially for developing brains.

1. Protective Equipment: Proper fitting shoes reduce chances of injury while running, turning, or kicking. Shin guards reduce the force to the shin bone (tibia). Mouth guards can prevent dental injury.

2. Neuromuscular & Biomechanical Training:Proper balance and muscle training has been shown to reduce ACL injury by up to 88%. A Physical Therapist can help identify anatomical difference (ex. When landing or decelerating, girls often have higher internal rotation at the hip and external rotation of the tibia than boys), a PT can identify these differences and prescribe exercises to reduce concerns.

3. Individual Player Monitoring:No one knows your player better than you. Monitoring for signs of pain or changes in mood are key. But annual concussion screening & physical movement assessment from your Physical Therapist will help your player stay healthy.

Recovering from injury? Or ready to optimize your playing? The PTs at FYZICAL Oklahoma City know how to improve balance and get you game ready.

Submitted by Dr. Lauren Collier Peterson, PT, DPT

Clinical Director FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City

Dr. Peterson and her staff provide Physical Therapy for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction, imbalance and falls risk, & orthopedic injuries in OKC.

She has treated hundreds of men and women with pelvic floor issues ranging from incontinence and constipation to pain and prolapse. While she has a particular clinical interest in pelvic pain disorders, she wants everyone to enjoy good pelvic health and to know that “Leaks are not normal!”

Watson, et al. (2019). Soccer injuries in children and adolescents. Pediatrics,144, e20192759.