The Most Common Soccer Injuries and How The Redcord Suspension System Can Help

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), I see firsthand the impact injuries can have on athletes. Soccer is a physically demanding sport and injuries are not unheard of. However, I also know there are many things that a physical therapist can do to help you recover safely and prevent these injuries from happening again.

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Ankle sprains are the most common type of soccer injury. They occur when ligaments that support the ankle joint are overstretched or torn. This can happen when your foot is turned or twisted in an unnatural way, for example when cutting or changing directions while playing.

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Knee injuries are also common. Some examples include ACL tears, meniscus tears, and patellar tendonitis. ACL tears most commonly occur through non-contact injuries when a player suddenly changes direction or deceleration, but can also occur from landing awkwardly after a jump, being slide-tackled, or a direct blow to the knee. Meniscus tears usually happen the same way, but can also occur when a player kicks the ball with a lot of force. Patellar tendonitis typically occurs due to overuse motions, such as repetitive jumping, running or kicking.

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Lastly, muscle strains are also a common type of soccer injury, with hamstring and groin strains being the most frequently reported. Muscle strains occur when a muscle is overstretched or torn. This can happen when the muscle is suddenly overloaded or when it is not warmed up properly. It can also happen when the muscle is compensating for underlying weaknesses somewhere else along the kinetic chain. That's why you need a physical therapist to assess your whole body from head to toe.

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Physical therapy can help to treat and prevent many of these injuries by improving how your body moves, balances and stabilizes itself both on and off the field. There are many tools and techniques that physical therapists use to accomplish this. However, there's one that stands out in mind more than anything else: the Redcord suspension system.

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FINDING YOUR BALANCE

When you're battling an injury, it is common for your muscles to become imbalanced. Studies show that the deep stabilizer muscles turn off, and the larger superficial muscles take over. It's a process known as neuromuscular de-activation. Understanding how to correct these imbalances is key to a successful recovery. That's where Redcord comes in.

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Redcord is a suspension system used to rebalance the muscles. More specifically, it restores strength to the deeper muscles that stabilize the joints. This approach is called neuromuscular activation. It involves performing suspension exercises in a “zero-gravity” environment, so that you can gently work the deep stabilizer muscles without interference from the larger superficial muscles.

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If you are a soccer player, it's important to be aware of the risks of injury and to take steps to prevent them. To learn more about how Redcord can help you, contact us at Activcore Druid Hills.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the opinion of the author, unless otherwise noted, and should not be taken as personal medical advice. The information provided is intended to help readers make their own informed health and wellness decisions.

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