How To Prevent Common Soccer Injuries
Soccer weekends become a ritualistic for many families. Waking up, setting aside uniforms, making sure your shoes are clean and ready to go. From ages as early as a year and a half, children are learning the concepts of soccer, the ability to play as a team and how to individually build themselves up to be one of the strongest players.
Soccer has been part of the Latino identity and the cultural pastime of playing in the streets is being passed down to younger generations. Leagues are popping up all over the United States for youth, intermediary levels and even Veteran level leagues are up and running all year round.
Athletes usually suffer from different injuries depending on their sport of choice. When it comes to futbolistas, their injuries fall into the category of ankle sprains and muscle strains, says podiatrist Dr. Anthony Pérez.
Pérez says that having good flexibility and stretching helps with strains. But he warns, stretch after warm ups. Muscles become more flexible after warming them up, preventing injury from simple stretches like touching your toes.
Without stretching, players are at risk for hamstring pulls and tears that run down the back of the legs.
