London, United Kingdom Posted 3 years, 1 month ago
Calf Bruise / Contusions Are Common In Football and Soccer
Key Points:
- Calf bruises are common injuries in football and soccer, occurring from direct contact to the calf muscle (usually from being kicked)
- Bruises result in varying injuries from minor disruption of muscle fibers to complete muscle tears
- Initial treatment is RICE for first 72 hours: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Heat and gentle mobilization can be used after the first 72 hours
- Return to play can take place in a few days for minor injuries but can take several months for complete muscle tears
I’m seeing a lot of calf bruises this time of year in soccer and football players. Since the calf is unprotected it’s pretty common for players to be kicked there, or rarely to have a bruise from direct contact from a kicked or thrown ball.
Fortunately, most calf bruises or contusions are minor injuries. Indeed many of these are ‘tweaks’ in which the player will be able to continue play during the practice or game, but will experience soreness and tightness after the playing session. These minor injuries will improve rapidly but some injuries can be quite a bit more involved. The most severe type of injury, a complete muscle tear, will take several weeks or even months to recover to the point where the young athlete can sprint or jump with good power.
The decision on whether to see a physician is easy at the extremes. For truly minor bruises you’ll likely improve with the simple steps outlined below and a visit to the doctor is usually not needed. And at the other extreme for severe injuries you’ll want to get properly evaluated by a physician. Signs would include severe pain at the time of injury, if you heard or felt a pop, if you can’t bear any weight on the leg, or if there was rapid onset of swelling or bruising. The moderate cases can be individual decisions. As a general rule I would say that if you are not showing improvement in the first few days with RICE it would be important to seek a professional opinion from a physician.
In a minor injury you may feel sore to the touch and discomfort when walking but the calf will typically look normal from the outside. In moderate injuries there is some disruption of the muscle fibers, often causing minor swelling and visible bruising. In complete muscle tears you’ll typically feel severe pain at the time of injury, inability to bear weight, with rapid onset of swelling and bruising.
Read the full article at: sidelinesportsdoc
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