“In the U.S. about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year,” said Standford Medicine. 

Every year, athletes in all sports experience life-altering injuries that can easily be prevented or caught early on. Catching an injury in its early stages is crucial to shortening recovery time, preventing long-term problems, and permanent damage. The journey to recovery requires specific steps that need to be taken in order for athletes to return to their beloved sport. 

“Mostly just resting it, I feel like not getting into soccer to fast because I know if i started playing before {it healed} i could have retorn a ligament or reinjured myself,” said Piper Gravdal (12), a girls soccer player who recently came back after recovering from a torn ligament. 

One of the most recommended methods Healthcare Providers recommend to injured players is following the R.I.C.E. method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. R.I.C.E. is a common method protocol used to take care of musculoskeletal injuries: damage done to muscles, bones, ligaments, etc. This method can help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain bleeding in athletes’ soft tissues.