A hand to the face or a hard fall from a tackle are just some of the ways a soccer player could suffer from abrasions and scrapes.

For the most part, this type of injury is fairly minor. However, if mistreated, that knee or hand abrasion could easily become infected. The first thing to do is to clean the wound with a water or saline solution, removing dirt and debris. A gentle brushing may be required to remove all foreign materials. Applying ice will ease the pain and reduce inflammation. Irritation from clothing or equipment could occur, so the wound must be protected by using a sterile non-adherent dressing such as a Telfa Pad.

Minor abrasions will form scabs and heal reasonably quickly, however, infection can occur (swelling, redness, tenderness, and/or heat). Serious infections could produce throbbing pain and swelling of lymph nodes. If that’s the case, immediately seek medical attention.

In returning to play, be sure to protect the area of injury (pads for knees, bandages for hands, etc).

For more information, check out facebook.com/sportmedsoccer and the Province Sports Academy.