Physical Therapy For Soccer Athletes

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Physical contacts are unavoidable in this sport. While you often see many soccer players faking injuries in a game, it does not mean this sport is injury-free in the real world. 

 

Many soccer athletes suffer real injuries during a game or practice sessions. Sprains, strains, fractures, head injuries, and skin injuries are the most common soccer injury categories. The players do not even need physical contact to be injured. Running and jumping in an intense practice session is enough to wreak havoc on their ankles or knees.

This is why physical therapy for soccer athletes is so important. Most minor injuries only require ice, elevation, and short rest but for more serious injuries physical therapy is the way to go.

Let us have a look at what kind of physical therapy is required for a serious injury such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

For ACL recovery, the therapy is set into four phases spanning 24 weeks or more. A certified sport physiotherapist will supervise the whole process to ensure a successful rehabilitation.

The first phase of the therapy focuses on improving the range of motion, pain control, performing daily living activities, and also quadriceps activation. In this phase, the athlete is doing exercises to strengthen the non-involved limb as well as improving cardio and core stability.

On the second phase, the soccer athlete will continue with the exercises from the first phase with flexibility training added. There will be pool activities too where the player perform water running as well as basic soccer drills. The goal of this second phase is to prepare the neuromuscular control for soccer-specific movements. The exercises are also set to prepare the athlete for the next phase, which is going to be more intense.

When the player no longer experience pain or swelling and gain his full range of motion he is ready to move on to the third phase. The third phase is all about preparing the player to get back to team practice. The exercises focus on core strength, cardiovascular, and endurance training. In this phase, the player will also do soccer-specific drills to learn how to minimize the risk of injury during physical contacts.

The fourth phase is when the athlete gradually returns to the team practice. At first, the practice is limited and strictly no contact. When the player is ready, both physically and psychologically, he is allowed to take part in the normal team practice, body contact and all. In addition to the team practice, he will continue with the exercises from the third phase to achieve 95% recovery and patch up the remaining deficits.

Physical therapy for soccer athletes is not always about recovering from injuries. Physical therapy is also an important part of in a well-balanced training system. Each player has his own roles and position in the team. By incorporating physical therapy as well as nutrition control and specialized training regime for each of the players, they will be able to put their best performance even during long soccer game season.  

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