Learn more about ankle sprain, injury suffered by Neymar

Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in football. It occurs when there is a distension in the ligament, that is, it receives a greater force than it supports.

That’s what happened to Neymar in the match against Serbia, this Thursday (24), in the debut of the Brazilian team in the World Cup in Qatar. Brazil won 2-0, and the number 10 was substituted in the 34th minute of the second half.

“Neymar had a sprain. The move, seen on TV, is very clear. It was a direct trauma, in which the Serbia player’s knee made a movement, causing the sprain. It showed swelling, we started treatment immediately. Now, we have to wait 24 hours , 48 hours, to get a clearer idea,” said Rodrigo Lasmar, chief medical officer of the Brazilian delegation.

“This distension inverts the foot. When it goes inwards, we call it eversion. In Neymar’s case, it was inversion. It hurts the ligament because it extends more than it is supporting. If it were to force more, then it would break”, explains doctor Eduardo de Melo Moreira , from Hospital Sírio-Libanês, specialist in foot and ankle surgery.

The lateral part of the ankle is composed of a structure with three ligaments: posterior peroneal talus, anterior peroneal talus and calcaneal talus. In general, the last two are the most affected by the injury. The sprain ends up causing an edema in the region, which swells and becomes sore.

There are three types of sprain, mild, moderate and severe. This classification depends on a clinical examination performed by the doctor.

“In a severe case, it may be necessary to undergo surgery. In a moderate case, recovery takes three to four weeks. , and you can play”, says the doctor.

Treatment should be based on anti-inflammatories and the application of an ice pack to the injury site. The player must also undergo a rest period of 24 to 48 hours. Physical therapy also helps with recovery. Depending on the case, an image exam is performed for a more accurate evaluation. This usually occurs if there is persistent pain at the site of the injury.

For Moreira, in the case of Neymar, the fact that he has already suffered other sprains can be a complicating factor. “He must have had a lot of sprains already, so he ends up aggravating it a bit because the ankle is a little unstable.”

understand the sprain

Which is?

• It occurs when the ankle ligament is stretched beyond what it can handle. The foot rotates inwards due to the weight of the body, compromising the ligament

Symptoms

• Pain and swelling. The region can also turn purple, with an edema

Treatment

• Anti-inflammatories and ice packs. In some cases, the doctor immobilizes the area with a splint. Depending on the severity, there is a need for surgery

Recovery

• Varies depending on severity. If it is light, the player is recovered in up to ten days. If it is moderate, it can take three to four weeks. If it is severe, the time is extended