How to Recognize and Treat Shin Injuries in Youth Soccer

Although soccer has one of the lowest injury rates of any youth sport, sports and injuries, unfortunately, go hand in hand. Shin injuries are very common in soccer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• First Aid Kits
• Ice Packs
• Soccer Apparel
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Ice packs

1. Recognize shinsplints. Shinsplints are inflammations of the muscles surrounding the shins. The pain is usually localized from the mid to lower portion of the outside of the lower leg.

2. Know the cause. Shinsplints are caused by repetitive running on hard ground.

3. Treat shinsplints. This includes physical therapy, but three to six weeks of rest will probably allow the injury to heal on its own.

4. Use ice and anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen sodium.

5. Be careful of stress fractures. These microfractures occur in the front lower-leg bone.

6. Treat stress fractures with rest. Stress fractures may take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to heal.

7. Beware of fractures. These can result from a direct traumatic blow to the shinbone. An obvious deformity signals the need to splint the limb immediately. Check to be sure that blood circulation below the break is OK.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that children wear shin guards when playing soccer.
• Be on the lookout for a tear in the lining that holds the muscle mass in place (the fascia). This can occur with any leg injury and can happen if a player takes a swift kick directly to the muscle.
• Know the signs. The muscle will protrude out through the fascia, with considerable pain, as the athlete starts to run.
• See an orthopedic surgeon or sports physician in the event of any of these shin injuries.
• Make sure a medical kit is kept on the sideline and that the coach or another parent is trained in first aid.

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