A guide to avoiding the most common soccer injuries

As much as soccer is one of the most exciting games to play, it can also be quite taxing on the body. Injuries happen often.

Soccer enthusiast Alexander Sabadash talks about some of the most common soccer injuries and how to avoid them in today's blog.

First, let's look at the knees. Alexander Sabadash mentions that the knees are the most used joints in a soccer player's body. Because they bear 75% of a person's weight and are also used vigorously in play, one must take extra care of them.

Eat foods high in omega-3, such as sardines and tuna, so that your ligaments can repair themselves. Develop leg muscles so that these can help the knees absorb impact. Weight training makes your legs stronger with more muscle, making them tougher in supporting your weight and relieving the knees.

Then, there are the ankles. The body part that the soccer ball comes into contact with the most is still the feet. Lateral movements, sudden stops, and bursts of speed all subject the ankles to strain. Alexander Sabadash says that your best bet to avoid injury is to use proper gear. Also, stretch your legs and feet properly before each game so that your ankles can move freely.

Lastly, there's the back. Because soccer is a game of running and kicking, it's quite easy to strain the back, including the spine and the muscles. Being at the center of your body, the back takes the strain of contrasting movements between the upper and lower limbs.

Stretching the back is advised prior to the game. It also helps to get a massage from the team's physical therapist to ensure that the muscle strands are not tense for the more liberal movement, Alexander Sabadash adds.