We’re excited to launch our Injury Report blog series just in time for the World Cup! Throughout the year, we will be watching different sports and sharing more information on the injuries that different players sustain and the recovery process to get back in the game. Check back each week for the next Injury Report!
The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 12th and the action has been intense. Soccer is a sport that requires both a level of endurance and strength. It is a highly demanding sport and injuries are likely to occur. Here are a few of the injuries that we have seen so far in the opening round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
- Sprained ankle: Most ankle sprains do not require surgical intervention. All ankle sprains recover through three phases: a combination of protection and the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), the recovery phase, which lasts 1-2 weeks depending on the injury, and the functional phase of rehabilitation. If the severity of the injury is not recognized and is not treated with the necessary attention and care, chronic problems of pain and instability may result.
- Hamstring injury: The majority of acute hamstring injuries are partial thickness tears, meaning only part of the muscle has been torn. These can be treated successively with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Return to full activity is usually allowed when the patient is pain free, has full range of motion, and full strength. More severe injuries lead to longer periods of rest with conservative management.
- ACL injury: The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) helps stabilize and support the joint. Most ACL injuries are attributed to general core and lower body weakness. Because the ACL cannot be reattached once it is torn, surgical reconstruction requires the grafting of replacement tissue in its place. Following surgery, the patient enters a rehabilitation program to restore strength, stability, and range of motion to the knee that varies between 6 to 12 months of recovery time.
