Ankle sprains are very common in all sports, accounting for around one in four sports injuries, and very common in soccer, what with players jumping, sprinting and cutting when competing with another player and team for the ball.
Ankle sprains happen when the foot twists, rolls or turns beyond its normal motions. A great force is transmitted on landing and the ankle can be sprained if the foot is planted unevenly. This causes the ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range and, if the force is too strong, they can tear. A ‘pop’ may be heard and swelling soon results, leading to bruising and soreness.
How to Prevent Ankle Sprains for Soccer Players
As soccer players work to get #MatchReady, it’s important to take extra precautions to prevent common soccer injuries. Simple injury prevention drills and post-training recovery can help you stay healthy and ready to dominate games.
To help keep you on the field, we partnered with Dr. Brian Campbell, founder of Xcell Movement & Performance in Raleigh, NC. We picked his brain on how to prevent common soccer injuries. Ankle sprains in soccer are of course one of the most common soccer injuries but there are ways to prevent suffering a serious ankle injury that will keep you off the field for a long time.
This episode focuses on preventing ankle sprains by strengthening your hips. Learn more about soccer injury prevention here: www.soccer.com
