Soccer is a popular sport among adults, offering a fast-paced and social workout. However, its dynamic nature increases the risk of injury. Dr. Jason Ahuero, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist, notes that the sport involves running, quick direction changes, and player interactions, all of which contribute to potential injuries.
Dr. Ahuero identifies foot and ankle injuries as the most common issues faced by soccer players. “The most common injury in soccer, and really the most common orthopedic injury overall, is a lateral ankle sprain,” he says. This type of sprain occurs when the ankle rolls inward, resulting in torn lateral ligaments.
High ankle sprains are less frequent but more severe than lateral ankle sprains because they involve rotational force and damage to ligaments between the tibia and fibula. Dr. Ahuero explains: “These must be distinguished from lateral ankle sprains since they have greater consequence in terms of amount of lost playing time and, in some cases, may even require surgery.”
Other injuries commonly seen in soccer include turf toe—caused by hyperextension of the big toe joint—Achilles tendon ruptures (particularly among adults in their 30s and 40s), knee injuries such as ligament sprains or meniscal tears including ACL tears, and concussions typically resulting from collisions or head-to-ground contact.
Overuse injuries are also prevalent among adult soccer players. These can manifest as shin splints, stress fractures in the shin or foot, plantar fasciitis, or tendinitis around the ankle or knee.
For minor injuries like strains or mild sprains, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) can be effective treatments. However, persistent symptoms should not be ignored. “If an ankle sprain isn’t improving after about a week, get it checked,” advises Dr. Ahuero. He adds: “Research shows that up to 40% of untreated lateral ankle sprains end up leading to chronic instability of the ankle joint — increasing the risk of future sprains.” Dr. Ahuero recommends evaluation for any injury that does not resolve quickly.
Serious acute injuries require immediate attention if there are signs such as inability to bear weight, tenderness over the ankle bones, hearing a pop at the time of injury, or difficulty pushing off from the foot.
To reduce injury risk while playing soccer, Dr. Ahuero emphasizes preparation:
– Assess your fitness before joining league play to avoid overuse injuries.
– Build strength with bodyweight exercises like squats and lunges.
– Use dynamic warm-ups instead of static stretching; movements like high knees and lateral shuffles help prepare for game activity.
– Protect vulnerable joints with braces or proper taping techniques if there is a history of prior injury.
– Wear well-fitting shoes that are properly broken-in.
Dynamic warm-ups combined with strength training for knees and ankles have been shown to lower rates of serious injuries such as ACL tears. “There’s good data showing dynamic warm-ups lower ACL tear rates,” says Dr. Ahuero.
