Common Hockey Injuries

Before You Put the Band Aid On

Athletes learn early on whether they are “loose-jointed” or “tight-jointed.” For players who are hyperflexible and loose, flexibility isn't a problem. Strength is. They need to concentrate on strength-training exercises, using weights and gym machines. “Tight-jointed” players, on the other hand, have strong, tense muscles, ones that pull and strain. These athletes must stretch every day to gain flexibility.

·  Lower back problems. Hockey players are always bending, looking down at the ball, aiming, and hitting. This constant bending motion can create aches and pains in the lower back area.

·  Neck injury. The same bending motion that affects the lower back can also strain the upper back and neck as well. Add turning your head to aim while bending and you have the makings of an injury.

·  Foot injury. You won't see too many hockey players with flat feet, but, even so, skating for hours at a time can cause havoc to toes, heels, and ankles. The lack of circulation, the unrelenting pressure on the heel, the tight lacings at the ankle—all of these can cause problems.

·  Tendonitis. Hockey players are vulnerable to the painful inflammation of the tendon at the back of the leg. Why? All that skating combined with the twisting and turning of the game adds unrelenting pressure to the leg.

·  Cuts and bleeding. Ice hockey has the added dimension of skates—with razor sharp blades. Fast, faster, faster still, the other team charges, sliding along on their skates. One player checks you, then another. Another falls—and cuts your arm with the bottom of his blade.

·  Spinal cord injury. Sometimes the whole back is involved in a fall. Ice is slippery, and players will fall. Some of them fall backward, right on their backs. If a player injures his spinal cord, he might not be able to move. As in football, head, neck, and back injuries can occur with poor technique. Checking, ice hockey's version of tackling, must be taught and rehearsed over and over again to help reduce injury.

·  Broken bones. Even with the use of shoulder pads, shin guards, and other gear, bones can get broken. A player might look like a superpower hero from Star Wars, but one bad check to the boards, and a twist or an awkward fall can bypass protection and cause a break.

Treatment and Cures

Backs can become stronger if players concentrate on strengthening their thighs and posterior muscles. By making these muscles strong and flexible, they can act as a “pedestal” for the bent back, preventing strain.