'Repair Workshop' for Your Valuable Squad

To assist clarity between the football codes this article refers to football, the round ball game formerly known as soccer. Thankfully most soccer injuries are a soft tissue injury. As expected, 50-80% of football / soccer injuries affect the feet and legs. 40-45% of leg injuries involve ankle injuries and foot pain. Most of those injuries are either a sprained ankle or knee ligaments.

Knee injuries account for 25% of leg injuries. The ACL injury (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is the most common season-ending problem.

Menisicus tears are also common due to the pivoting nature of football. In young football players, Osgood-Schlatter Disease is a common cause of knee pain. Sever's disease is a common source of heel pain. In the lower leg, tibial shaft fractures are uncommon, but they represent the most severe type of lower extremity trauma in soccer.

Head injuries account for 4-22% of soccer injuries. Concussions make up 2-3% of all soccer injuries. Most severe head injuries are caused by collisions. The collisions could be with other players, goalposts, the ground, or the ball. Neck pain and shoulder pain can occur. Mild whiplash injury has been reported after head clashes or impact with the ground. Goalkeepers are susceptible to shoulder injures from falls and collisions. However, even field players can suffer from a rotator cuff injury during throw ins or falls. The anatomy and physiology of venous return are described with an emphasis on the differences between standing and walking and the interplay between the venous systems of both the foot and the calf.

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