The ankle pain that is experienced by soccer players usually occurs after sustaining a sprain which is one of the common injuries in the sport. The ankle injuries are quite common among youth players. It is important to note that pain is how the body notes the degree of strain to the ligaments in the ankle.
Anatomy of the ankle
The ankle joint is comprised of the ends of the fibula and tibia, two shin bones and the talus. Several ligaments are responsible for holding the bones together. When it comes to a sprain, it involves the stretching or partial or full tear of the ligaments. The ankle joint are responsible for allowing the toes of the individual to point up and down. As a ball-and-socket joint, the ankle joint enables inward and outward movement. Most cases of ankle sprains during soccer occur once the ankle and foot roll inwards.
What are the risk factors?
The prevalence of ankle injuries is due to poor tackling. In the sport, illegal tackles involve contact with the player before the ball and striking the player with a raised upper leg after contact with the ball with the lower leg. Due to the higher risk for ankle injury on uneven or wet surfaces, the goal area during corner kicks also poses as a risk for ankle injuries. With this in mind, players should be careful during corner-kick practices to avoid any injuries.
Other possible causes
During strong kicks in the game, the ankle joint is in a position of full extension. In this position, the perimeters of the tibia and talus can hit each other as well as during the full push-off motion while running. Constant injury to the ankle joint can lead to footballer’s ankle in which bony growths grow on the tibia and talus inside the joint. This condition would surely require surgery in order to remove all the bony growths.
Management of sprains
The ankle pain due to a sprain can be managed with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation). The individual must be allowed to rest and apply an ice pack over the injured area, but not directly on the skin. Make sure that the ice pack is wrapped in a clean towel or cloth. Direct contact to the skin without any barrier might cause damage.
The affected ankle can be compressed with an elastic tape and elevate it higher than the heart to prevent blood from pooling in the ankle. For mild cases of sprains, it only requires minimal treatment while moderate or severe cases of sprains require a cast or splinting for 2-3 weeks. If you want to learn how to effectively provide the RICE method for an ankle sprain, all you have to do is to register for first aid training today in your area.