Hockey is a fast-paced game. Puck-drops are just a regular part of the action and along with the constant movement come constant opportunities for injury. Unfortunately, there are also some common causes of injury that players need to be aware of.
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Overuse
Just like any other sport, hockey players are at risk of overuse injuries. These are injuries caused by players doing the same motion over and over again without giving their bodies time to heal. Some of the more common overuse injuries include:
- Shoulder injuries – including shoulder impingement
- Back injuries – including herniated discs and spinal stenosis
- Knee injuries – including medial meniscus tears, ACL tears, and patella taping
- Hamstring injuries – including muscle strains and tears
- Butterfly knee injuries – including medial meniscus tears, ACL tears, and quadriceps tightness
- Ankle injuries – including sprains and strains, as well as Achilles tendonitis
Luckily, most of these injuries are quite easy to avoid. Just change up your training regime a little. Instead of doing the same exercise every day, change it up and try something new. Mixing up your routine can help you avoid overuse injuries. Even if your body looks the same as it did the day before, your muscles might have had enough time to rest and recover and therefore be less likely to get injured during a game.
Recovery
Recovery is always a key consideration in trying to avoid injuries. After all, you don’t want to be sidelined for too long! The amount of time that you need to recover depends on the nature of the injury. For example, if you have a muscle strain or tear, then you will need to rest it and give your body time to heal. You might also need an ice pack or heat compression wrap to help with the recovery process. Once the inflammation has subsided, you can begin moving around again and doing normal activities. However, if it is a overuse injury then you might need to take it a bit easier for a while until your body has time to repair itself fully.
Preventative Measures
There are some steps that you can take to prevent injuries before they even happen. Before a game, it’s a good idea to do some light stretching to prepare your muscles for the physical exertion that you are about to put them through. Warm-up exercises can also be helpful in preventing injuries by getting your muscles and joints ready for the game. Following a warm-up, you can do some light jogging or biking to get the blood flowing and muscles working. Finally, it’s important to have good equipment and clothing so that you can ensure that your body stays cool and comfortable during play.
Depression And Injury
In some cases, injuries among hockey players are linked to a form of depression called ‘hockey depression’. This is a type of situational depression that can hit athletes and sportspeople who suffer from it. It usually occurs at the end of a season when the excitement of playing a game wears off and the stress of not being able to pursue your sport becomes too much to handle.
This type of depression usually takes the form of anger and hostility towards teammates as well as referees and coaches. It is not uncommon for players to even think about harming themselves, especially during times of depression. It’s crucial that athletes who experience this kind of depression get professional help as soon as possible. They should not be afraid to seek help from anyone, even if it’s someone that they’re not supposed to talk to, like a coach or a referee. These people should not be afraid of being open about their problems and feelings. They deserve to feel comfortable talking to anyone about their mental health, including members of their own family.
Conclusion
Hockey is a fun and exciting game to play. Unfortunately, it’s also a very physical game and therefore comes with numerous risks of injury. It’s important that players take this into consideration and know how to reduce their risks of injury. By taking the time to rest and recover after games, mix up their routine, and avoid overuse injuries, they can greatly reduce their risks of injury. However, if they do sustain an injury then it’s important to know how to properly recover so that they can get back out on the ice as soon as possible and resume playing. Lastly, it is important to remember the risks of injury that they face and use this as motivation to further their sports career. This is especially crucial for younger players who are just beginning their playing days. Going through these risks will help them grow up faster and become more mature as individuals which will hopefully make them better teammates in the long run.