Soccer

One of the most common knee injuries in soccer is a torn anterior cruciate ligament which is an important stabilizing structure in the joint. This injury often occurs with a sudden change in direction. The athlete typically reports a pop and experiences pain and swelling in the knee. Our pediatric sports medicine team offers non-surgical and surgical treatment for very young to fully grown athletes who have an ACL tear. In addition to creating and studying the best treatments, our team studies ACL injuries and recovery to better understand how to prevent them.

To prevent this injury and others, the athlete needs to have good neuromuscular control of the leg and body. This is the ability to sense changes in body position, movement or forces from others or the ground, and respond quickly and in control. This can be improved with proper training.

Learn more about our bridge program and youth athlete training classes by emailing bridgeprogram@tsrh.org.

Learn more about ACL tears and other knee injuries.

Frequently asked questions regarding soccer athletes and concussions. 

Because concussions occur in soccer more than many other sports, preseason testing offers a few benefits for soccer players. The testing does not predict who will have concussions nor can it prevent a concussion; however, it does help a medical provider understand the athlete’s baseline or preseason neurocognitive status. Participation in testing may also help to raise awareness of concussions as it is typically paired with education about concussion recognition.

Call 469-515-7100 to speak with a staff member in our Sports Medicine clinic to learn more about baseline testing at Scottish Rite for Children in Frisco.

Pain in young athletes is not normal. Growth plate injuries are common in very young players and cause pain near areas of growth and activity. In 9-12-year-old players, heel pain is typically caused by a lot of running. This overuse injury is called Sever’s disease. In a slightly older group, Osgood-Schlatter disease is a more likely overuse injury from running. This condition causes pain just below the knee at the top of the shin bone.

These and other overuse injuries can be prevented with proper rest from activity. This means resting during the week and taking at least one to three months off from the sport throughout the year. This has become more difficult as year-round soccer and tournaments are more common. Trying a new sport is a good option as many studies show that a multi-sport player has less time on the bench and other benefits like conditioning and skills that transfer between sports.

Even when a league or club does not require a sports physical or pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE), our team highly recommends this step before training begins. For most, this should be part of an annual visit with the athlete’s pediatrician. In addition to discussing important family and personal medical history, a musculoskeletal screen and additional questions about general health can ensure the athlete is set up for a safe season. Skipping this step may leave an athlete vulnerable to preventable injuries or conditions.