The ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Greeks all appear to have had feet-based ball games similar to soccer, with the Chinese game “tsu-chu” being the most similar. Whether it is this game that spread all over the world or not, it is clear that a form of the game became popular in England, where rules similar to the modern game were first codified in the 16th century and where the first football association was formed. At present, soccer or “football,” is a sport played all over the world by male and female athletes in the youth, scholastic, collegiate, professional, recreational and Olympic
levels.

Soccer players may sustain injuries that are either acute or due to overuse. Ankle sprains are the most common injuries; Achilles tendinitis, and calf, groin, and hamstring strains are common as well. Due to heading and high-speed movements within the game, concussions occur relatively frequently as well.

Running is a prerequisite of the sport, and so common running conditions such as iliotibial band syndrome, blisters, muscle cramps, patellofemoral pain syndrome, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and stress fractures are fairly common. Finally, the highspeed nature of the sport, along with the constant changing in directions that happens in the game, predispose soccer players to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and meniscus injuries of the knee.
 

AMSSM Member Author: George G.A. Pujalte, MD