from journal Pediatrics
More than three million young Americans are
registered soccer players and the sport
continues to increase in popularity. But so
does the rate of injuries. A study at
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, published in
the journal Pediatrics, found the annual rate of
injuries to young soccer players jumped by
one hundred eleven percent in the last
twenty-four years. Most of the injuries were
sprains or strains, fractures or soft tissue
injuries. Concussions were just seven percent
of the injuries, but the rate of concussions
increased an astounding sixteen hundred
percent during the study period. Researchers
offer guidelines that include pre-season
conditioning and warming up before play.
Limit heading the ball for younger players and
always wear the recommended protective
gear.