Tedd
Girouard MS, LAT, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer FC Las Vegas
As soccer players get older they tend to think their
shins are indestructible. I say this because if you watch
a U-12 game all the players are wearing shin guards that
cover almost their whole shin. However, when you watch
a U-18 game a majority of the athletes are wearing shin
guards that are designed for U-8 players. Some soccer
players say that having proper shin guards may make their
level of play decrease. The reasons I have been given
are, they are too hot, too uncomfortable, they make me
loose touch, or they don't look cool. Well all of these
excuses pail in comparison to what can happen when you
hit another player while going after a 50 - 50 ball.
I know this has happened to most of you and for those
of you who wear proper shin guards, well this is painful,
if you do not this may become a season ending injury.
Possible Injuries:
Shin Contusion (Bruise) & Possible Compartment
Syndrome
A shin contusion is a bruise to either the bone or
the muscle beside the shinbone. This happens when you
get kicked in the shins. It is a painful ordeal because
unlike other areas of the body the shin has very little
natural padding. When this happens you may feel like
your leg is on fire and in a sense it is. The natural
response to this type of injury is massive bleeding under
your skin. This will put pressure on nerves, which will
give you the sensation of tremendous pain. If not appropriately
treated in a condition may arise which the nerves have
so much pressure on them they may fail to function. The
classic case of this is something-called drop foot. Drop
foot is characterized by the inability to pull your foot
upwards.
Treatment of Shin Contusions
Initial treatment
- Ice directly to the skin for 30 minutes wrapped with
an elastic bandage
- Post ice, do not wrap with
an elastic bandage
- Keep elevated
- Take to an Emergency Room if you can not pull your
foot upwards
- Take to a physician to determine if there is a fracture
- Take to a physician if the injured area appears extremely
tight to the touch
After initial treatment - 48 hours - 72 hours(No fracture)
-
Ice every 2 hours for 30 minutes
-
Do not wrap with elastic
bandage as this will increase the pressure in the
area
-
Keep elevated
-
Rest
-
Watch for "drop foot", if this occurs
go to a Emergency Room ASAP
Post 72 hours
-
Ice every 2 hours for 15 minutes
-
Try to massage the swelling upwards
-
Perform toe raise, and toe pull up exercises 3 -
4 times day
Return to play (When Pain Free)
- Use a proper shin guard
- Obtain some foam and place it in a donut shape
on the back side of the shin guard
- The hole of the donut should be directly over
the injured area
- Ice after each practice or game
|
 |
Treatment of a suspected fractured tibia or fibula
If you are unable to put substantial weight on your
lower leg, or it there is some kind of deformity you
should assume that you have a fracture in the area if
this is the case follow these steps:
- Call an ambulance if there is a noticeable deformity
- Splint as found
- Transport to a medical facility
- If you are able to ice it while waiting for a splint
it is a good idea
- DO NOT put any weight
on the injured leg
|
