The biggest sporting event in the world is happening right now, and no, it’s not the Super Bowl–it’s the World Cup. It’s the most popular event there’s ever been, and every year, it gets more popular.
What the event brings, beyond some of the most extraordinary talents in the world, might be the inspiration to dust off the cleats and take to the pitch in an effort to relieve the glory days. As admirable as these efforts are, they come with a little bit of risk for those more out of practice than others.
Watching stars like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and America’s own Christian Pullisic do incredible things on a soccer pitch could make the most cautious of us try things that we would be better off not trying.
These risky activities can lead to unfortunate injuries. This article is dedicated to weekend warriors in an attempt to prevent the common injuries that might befall us as we try to put on our best imitations of our soccer heroes.
The High-Ankle Sprain
To anyone who has suffered a high-ankle sprain, I’m sorry. These are very painful injuries and can take weeks to get better, and due to the location of the injury, can make walking very difficult.
A high-ankle sprain, though less common than its estranged cousin, the low-ankle sprain, is still a common injury to soccer players everywhere, and is much more problematic. While a low-ankle sprain happens when the foot is forced inward, straining the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, a high-ankle sprain happens when the foot is forced outward, straining the ligaments on the inside of the ankle.
High-ankle sprains can take weeks to fully heal, but the process can go faster by using ice, elevation, ibuprofen, and lots, lots, lots, lots of rest. (Which does mean, specifically, not playing soccer.)
A Wrist Fracture
We’ve all been there–the heat of the moment, pushing, running, shoving, and then disaster strikes, and the next thing you know, you’ve hit the dirt wrist-first. You get up off the ground with pain in your wrist, and your first thought is: “did I break it?”
If the wrist isn’t obviously broken, shooting at weird angles and whatnot, there are still some ways to tell. A broken wrist will swell and perhaps discolor, which a sprained wrist may also do, but a sprained wrist will go away after some time, while a broken wrist will continue to be painful until it gets resolved.
A broken wrist needs medical attention; sometimes surgery, sometimes not, but it will always need medical attention.
A Pulled Hamstring
Pulling a hammy, as middle-aged men around the world refer to it, is the colloquial term for a strained or torn hamstring, which occurs when the hamstring muscles are stretched beyond their normal range of motion, and slightly tear as a result. If this sounds painful, you’re right, it is very painful. Usually, people can tell right away that something is wrong, and tend to grab their leg in a way that looks really funny, but shouldn’t be laughed at (seriously, don’t).
Before laughing, take some time to check on the person who is hurt (and then go crazy, because sometimes the way they grab their leg is really funny).
This can happen when taking an awkward step while running, or simply by using hamstrings that haven’t been warmed up properly or used recently. Rest is generally the solution, as the muscle needs time to re-stitch itself together, which can’t happen if the muscle keeps getting used.
Remember This
Ultimately, watching sports and getting inspired can be an amazing way to get in shape and have fun. Getting injured, however, is not fun, and can get in the way of our regular lives. Taking extra care sounds like a bore, but it will help you to stay active and healthy. So, what’s the moral of the World Cup? You aren’t a pro (yet), so you don’t have to play like one!
