Soccer Kids Need Protection
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Ever since 1984, the year soccer passed baseball as the most popular teamsport in the United States, participation in this sport has skyrocketed.With increasing numbers of children running and kicking their way downsoccer fields across America, doctors of chiropractic are urging parentsto take a step back and learn how to protect their children from the potentialinjuries this popular sport can cause.
Although soccer can be a great overall sport for children, some youngstersare enduring mild to severe head traumas, neck injuries, damage to thecervical spine, headache, neck pain, dizziness, irritability, and insomniaas a result of their participation, according to the September 2000 issueof the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association (JACA). Each year,in fact, youths under age 15 suffer more than 227,100 soccer-related injuries,according to recent reports.
Heading the Ball: A Risk for Children
“People have this misconception that soccer has no risk,” says Scott Bautch,DC, past president of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Councilon Occupational Health, who has five children playing soccer. “I thinksoccer is too aggressive too early, which is leading to potential problems.It’s not as though we can fix brain damage later on in these kids’ lives.” Soccerrequires three basic skills – kicking (striking the ball with the feet),trapping (similar to catching the ball, only using different parts of thebody), and heading the ball, (the deliberate use of the head to redirectthe ball). It’s that last one – heading – that stirs concern and controversyover possible permanent damage.
Philip Santiago, DC, who was an All-American soccer player in collegeand a professional player for five years, says that heading is safe onlywhen children are given “proper coaching in proper technique.” Dr. Santiagohas also served for five years as head soccer coach at both New York Instituteof Technology and Montclair State University, and was the chiropractorfor the United States Olympic Team in 1992. Dr. Santiago’s opinion on propertechnique is backed up in a study of elite soccer players at the 1993 OlympicFestival. “While properly executed heading was not found to result in anyconcussive episodes, 18 percent (18 of 102) of the concussions were a resultof heading,” the study found.
Dr. Santiago would like to see youngsters hold off heading until age 10or 11. Dr. Bautch prefers age 14 to 16, based on maturation and developmentof the spine.
Helmets: Not A Complete Solution
Some school districts are now requiring helmets for young soccer players.However, Dr. Bautch, who says helmets are “a positive,” worries that helmetsdon’t protect the spine and don’t make up for too-aggressive play. “Theyare just a small piece that may give some protection,” he explains. “I’dhate to see kids wear helmets and have people think that the kids are safeand that they don’t have to teach safety and prevention. I would rathersee no heading without helmets in young kids, and let helmets be introducedlater.”
Prevention and Treatment of Injuries
Parents should also encourage a broad spectrum of sports – like soccer,skating and skiing, for example – to develop the whole body. Over-playingand over-training are problems exacerbated by ambitious parents, peer pressureand adult role models. Children need their rest time.
If an injury occurs, think RICE – rest, ice, compression, and elevationof the injury – which is the recommended procedure. Keep the injury iceduntil the swelling is down, applying ice no longer than a 20-minute session.After 20 minutes, ice fatigues the blood vessels and causes a heat reactionthat actually increases swelling. Leave the ice off for about an hour andreapply. Then, try to get the child to move the injured area as soon aspossible. If pain persists, consider taking your child to a chiropractoror other health care professional.
Other Recommendations for Soccer Safety
Parents can help protect their children from soccer injuries. Many ofthe participants at a recent Consumer Product Safety Commission roundtableinsisted that parents and coaches already have the tools at their disposal.Among them are:
- teaching and use of proper heading technique
- use of smaller balls for younger players
- strict enforcement of rules
- padding of goal posts
- use of mouth guards
- improved medical coverage at games
- coaches educated in symptoms of brain injury
- proper nutrition, including plenty of water to keep muscles hydrated
