Most Common Injuries for Hockey Players

Hockey is a sport individuals of all ages participate. It, like all other sports, is a sport with risk of injury. Hockey players are at a higher risk for certain injuries than other athletes because hockey involves changing direction while skating and collisions with other players or the ice. Hockey players are prone to falling when colliding with an opponent. This can cause injuries from minor contusions to serious injures including concussions and broken bones. Depending on the severity of the injuries will contribute to determining the time for recovery from the injury. To increase the rate of recovery and decrease the risk of reinjury an athlete needs the guidance of a physical therapist to help develop a treatment plan tailored to individual needs. Read more to know why physical therapy is essential for the prevention and treatment of hockey injuries.

What Are Hockey Injuries?

Hockey injuries do occur of course. Types of injuries vary depending on the age of the players. Hockey players are prone to injuries based upon the uniqueness of the game. The injuries range from minor to major. Falls and collisions can cause them. Several factors contribute to the occurrence of these injuries.

There are three types of musculoskeletal injuries: ankle sprains, knee sprains, and muscle strains. Of these three types of injuries, ankle sprains are the most common in hockey players across all levels. However, knee sprains are also quite common among younger players and can occur in any age group. Muscle strains are not as frequent but occur in most sports activities. All athletes face the risk of suffering a sports-related injury. Don’t allow an injury to prevent you from participating in the game. Twin Boro will work with you to develop a personalized sports physical therapy program to decrease the severity of the impairments and related limitations from a hockey related injury.

What Are the Most Common Hockey Injuries?

When it comes to hockey players, there are common injuries that can arise from playing the sport. You need to be aware of some of them to decrease risk injury and keep yourself healthy. Athletes can be effectively treated using physical therapy to restore activity, strength, and normal movement after an injury.

Common injuries in hockey include:

Hip/groin issues: These injuries can be caused by repeated stress to the groin area, mainly if your body is not correctly aligned when you’re in a squatting position. Hip problems require the expertise of a physical therapist to increase the likelihood of recovery from the injury without the need for surgical intervention.

Knee issues: Knee injuries can come from repetitive impact of the knees or knee on the ice from falls. These injuries may require surgery; however, rehabilitation alone may restore the knee. If left untreated knee injuries can become chronic in nature.

Shoulder/neck issues: Shoulder pain is usually caused by repetitive shoulder movements during exercise sessions or games. You could also experience neck pain due to poor posture when exercising or playing hockey.

Achilles Tendonitis is a condition in which the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed or torn. Symptoms include pain at the back of your leg just above the ankle when you walk or run on it. If you have Achilles tendonitis, try using a heel lift in your skates and shoes for temporary relief from the symptoms until you ae able to consult with a physical therapist. Stretching regularly is a common recommendation to keep your Achilles tendons healthy while playing hockey.

Ankle Sprains occur when one ankle twists too far while changing direction during skating during hockey practice or game. They are often caused by landing irregularly from losing balance when skating out of control. Wearing improper skates for ice hockey practice or games may put undue stress on the ankle resulting in a sprain.

How Can These Injuries be Treated?

Hockey injuries can be very serious and cause long-term problems if they are not treated correctly. Since there are many types of hockey injuries, it is important to know how to treat them.

• Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the injured body part can help reduce inflammation and swelling of the injured area.
• A physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain without causing stomach irritation or other side effects.
• Physical therapy consultation is recommended for the quickest and safest recovery and return to the previous activity.

First and foremost, you should always seek medical attention when you have a severe injury. This will help ensure you receive the best treatment possible and allow your doctor to diagnose the problem as quickly as possible.

How to Prevent Hockey Injuries

Hockey is a sport that involves lots of contacts, and injuries are possible. The good news is that you can prevent these injuries by following a few simple rules:

• Have an experienced physical therapist, athletic trainer, or physician perform a pre-season screening examination to identify existing injuries and uncover deficiencies.
• Regularly participate in a sports-specific conditioning program to avoid physical overload. Obtain the right equipment and maintain its proper use to avoid injury.
• Officials, players, and coaches should consistently demonstrate sportsmanship and mutual respect for their opponents.
• After an injury, a post-injury evaluation helps assess successful healing and allows the athlete to return to sports safely.

If there’s an injury during play, it’s always best to seek medical attention as soon as possible so that the pain can be treated properly at physical therapy and you can get back on the ice as quickly as possible!

Why is Physical Therapy Important for Hockey Injuries?

Hockey is a sport that requires a lot of physical fitness, which in turn requires a lot of exercises. To play hockey, you need to be in good shape, but there are many areas where people can get injured on the ice. The most common injuries are strains and sprains. These injuries can be painful, but they’re also easy to treat with physical therapy.

To prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, it’s important to take care of yourself before you even start playing hockey. Physical therapy uses a range of treatment options to help patients recover from their injuries, including exercises and other interventions that address muscle imbalances, restore joint stability and strength, improve range of motion and flexibility, decrease pain levels, and get athletes back on the ice as quickly as possible.

Physical therapy aims to ensure that your body heals correctly so you can return to hockey without any nagging injury.

Why Choose Twin Boro for Hockey Injuries?

At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are experts in treating hockey injuries. We offer various treatment options that can help alleviate your symptoms and allow you to play your best game! Contact us today at 1-866-525-1117 for a free screening or consultation with one of our physical therapists. Our clinicians will listen to your concerns, help determine if you are a candidate for physical therapy treatments and guide you through the scheduling process to make it as easy as possible!