Recovery tips for dead leg injuries

A dead leg is where the muscle is crushed against the bone.

Good recovery management can help a soccer (football) player return faster to training and playing.

What to do when the injury occurs

• Apply ice to the bruise. Either use a medical ice pack directly onto the area, or frozen peas/crushed ice in a plastic bag (but use a cloth as well to prevent frostbite). Apply 10 minutes on the injury, 10 minutes off for about an hour.
• Check the muscle out with gentle stretching.
• If moving the leg is possible and there is only some discomfort, gently stretch the muscle.
• Apply some very light massage, but if the pressure causes pain then it is best to stop.
• Consult a sports injury specialist if there is more serious pain and discomfort. If this is the case, it is important to use crutches and reduce the amount of weight on the damaged leg until you can seek medical opinion.

Recovering enough to return to soccer training

Attempt training once the knee can be bent more than 90 degrees. Otherwise running will employ other muscles to protect the leg, leading to damage elsewhere.

Click here for soccer coaching tips to ease cramp.