COMMON TRAUMATIC INJURIES IN YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND METHODS OF THEIR TREATMENT AND RECOVERY IN THE PROCESS OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensiv eanalysis of the most common traumatic injuries observed in young football players aged 10–17, with particular attention to the physiological characteristics of th edeveloping musculoskeletal system and the training demands typical of youth football. The study outlines the pathogenesis and mechanisms underlying both acute and chronic injuries frequently recorded during training sessions and competitive activity. These injuries include ligament sprains of the ankle and knee joints, muscle strains and microtears, overuse syndromes, meniscal injuries, stress fractures, and apophyseal damage associated with growth zones. The article examines intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to increased injury rates, such as insufficient neuromuscular control, inadequate warm-up routines, biomechanical errors in running and movement patterns, excessive training loads without proper recovery, improper footwear, suboptimal playing surfaces, and age-related vulnerability of growth plates [1]. Considerable attention is devoted to modern treatment strategies for lower-limb injuries in youth athletes. The effectiveness of PRICE and POLICE protocols is assessed alongside immobilization techniques, anti-inflammatory treatment, physiotherapy modalities, shockwave therapy, and kinesiology taping. A detailed description is provided of a multi-stage physical rehabilitation process that incorporates acute, subacute, functional, and pre-return-to-sport phases. The article highlights the role of therapeutic exercise, proprioceptive training, strengthening programs targeting stabilizing muscles, restoration of joint mobility, neuromuscular coordination, and progressive integration of footballspecific drills aimed at preventing re-injury and ensuring safe return to sport. Furthermore, the article offers practical recommendations for injury prevention, including training periodization, development of movement technique, neuromuscular warm-up protocols, regular medical monitoring, and optimization of training load. The presented material is of practical relevance for coaches, physical therapists, sports physicians, educators, and specialists in children's and youth sports. Research objective. The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the most common traumatic injuries in young soccer players and to justify modern methods of their treatment and rehabilitation, taking into account age-related biomechanical characteristics. Research methods. The methodological basis of the work is the analysis of scientific sources in sports medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, and physical therapy. The methods of comparison, synthesis, systematization, content analysis, and generalization of practical recommendations from specialists were used. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of clinical protocols for recovery from lower limb injuries and the recommendations of international football federations. Conclusions. The study made it possible to consider injuries in young footballers not as isolated cases, but as a systemic phenomenon formed under the influence of physiological, technical, and organizational factors. The results confirm the need for a comprehensive approach to training children and adolescents, in which medical support, competent training methods, and rational exercise are interrelated components. It has been shown that effective recovery from sports injuries depends not only on correctly selected treatment methods, but also on adaptive, step-by-step rehabilitation aimed at restoring functional readiness, not just eliminating symptoms. This approach minimizes the risk of re-injury and ensures a safe return to sports activities.