Hockey is one of the most popular sports due to the fact that it is both fun to watch and participate in. Unfortunately, there are many different kinds of hockey injuries that you may suffer from if you do not take proper care of yourself during the game. One of the most common injuries is to the ankle area due to a lack of support or protection while stepping on the ice surface. Other injuries include shoulder slaps, bumps, and more. The following are some helpful tips on how to tape a hockey injury perfectly so that you can get back on the ice as soon as possible:
Table of Contents
Use A Cold Pack
A cold pack is an invaluable piece of equipment to have on hand if you are playing hockey and sustain an injury to your ankle, knee, or similar body part. A cold pack has the ability to reduce inflammation and swelling which in turn allows you to reduce the discomfort that you are feeling while playing the game.
During the game, if you feel that your ankle is getting swollen or irritated, you can apply a cold pack to it for a few minutes. This will ease the pain and remove the discomfort that you are feeling while playing.
Ankle Braces
Ankle braces are excellent for preventing ankle injuries as well as reducing the discomfort that you are feeling while playing the game. These braces fit snugly around the ankle area and stabilize it while also protecting it from injury during gameplay. The best part about these braces is that they prevent ankle injuries that may otherwise cause you to miss a game or training session.
Ankle braces work well with hockey pants or sweatpants as they prevent the pant legs from continually riding up and exposing your underwear during gameplay. This can cause you to become a more desirable target to the opposition as they are trying to score a goal against you!
Shin Sheiks
Shin Sheiks are protective booties designed to prevent injuries to the shins or other similar parts of the body during hockey play. These boots also minimize the pain that you are experiencing while stepping on the ice surface. Many different styles of shin sheiks are available including some that have elasticized straps that pull the material snugly around the ankles to prevent slippage during use.
If you play hockey and sustain an injury to your shin, you can wear shin sheiks to minimize the pain and discomfort that you are feeling while playing the game. Additionally, having shin sheiks will make you a more formidable opponent on the ice!
Short Shorts
Short shorts are great for preventing injuries to the knee area during hockey play. These shorts are designed to be worn by the female athletes to prevent injuries to the knee area due to contact with another player’s skate or helmet. If you happen to get hit in the knee area with someone else’s hockey gear or with the hockey itself, you can be sure that you will experience some pain and discomfort which will keep you away from the game for a while.
While some females choose to go without shorts during the summer to prevent any possible injuries, short shorts are essential during the game to prevent knee injuries. Since they are short, they are not cumbersome and can be worn comfortably even during intense gameplay.
Hockey Gloves
Hockey gloves are another important part of preventing injuries while playing hockey. They are designed to offer maximum protection to the hand while grasping a hockey stick or puck. There are many different styles of hockey gloves including some that have padding on the inside to prevent chipping or cracking of the knuckles due to excessive impact during gameplay.
Whether you play professionally or recreationally, it is always a good idea to have hockey gloves handy so that you can prevent injuries to your hands while playing the game. This is doubly important if you play in rough or abrasive conditions as gloves will help keep your nails and skin healthy and looking good.
Rollers
Rollers are used by many hockey players to improve their agility and quickness on the ice. These balls are placed on either side of the chest area and when pushed with proper technique, they will travel in a straight line towards the other end. Through constant use, your body will learn to rely more on the rollers and less on your arms for propelling yourself across the ice surface.
Some people prefer to use ice tongs to push the rollers whilst others find that a good, hard kick with their ice skate aids in the process. Whatever the method of propulsion, rollers allow for continuous movement while also improving one’s agility and quickness on the ice.
Jumper Couts
Jumper calf sleeves are great for preventing injuries to the lower legs and ankles during hockey play. These materials are usually spandex based and are designed to fit snugly around the ankles and lower legs to offer support and prevent any possible sprains or strains. Sleeves like these are also referred to as compression shorts because they offer compression around the ankles to reduce swelling following an injury or during gameplay.
Jumper calf sleeves come in a variety of designs and colors so you are sure to find one that suits your personality perfectly.
How To Tape A Hockey
Once you have all of these essentials, it’s time to move onto the details of how to tape a hockey injury. Since most of the above items are used to prevent injuries to the ankle area, it is important to start by taking a look at the anatomy of the ankle and how to place the appropriate support under it. Next, one should look at the three basic rules of how to tape an ankle and how to accomplish perfect tape placement in accordance with these rules.
Anatomy Of The Ankle
The ankle is a complex joint made up of three bones, the tibia, fibula, and talus. The fibula and talus bones are the two larger bones of the ankle, while the tibia is the smaller of the three. The tibia is the bone that connects to the shin and foot; the fibula is the bone that connects to the leg; and the talus is the bone that connects to the ankle joint. The ankle is protected by muscles and tendons and covers over a 100 degrees of motion in total.
When a player steps on the ice, the surface traction created by the friction of the ice against the soles of the shoes causes the ankle to bend almost in half. As the player puts their weight on the foot, tibia flares out convexly. Once the player has put their weight on the foot, the natural concavity of the ankle joint provides stability as the foot is planted on the ground. The foot and ankle are in constant motion whilst the player is actively engaging in play.
The Three Basic Rules Of How To Tape An Ankle
The first rule of how to tape an ankle is to position the support underneath the ankle, taking into consideration the following two factors: the height of the player above the ice and the angle at which the player steps on the ice. The second rule is to place the support along the inside of the ankle so that it does not interfere with the range of motion of the ankle. The third and final rule is to secure the support so that it does not come off during play or become loose afterwards in case it was not fitted properly in the first place.
The first and most important rule when taping an ankle is to position the support underneath the ankle, taking into consideration the height of the player above the ice and the angle at which the player steps on the ice. This will determine the ideal placement of the support and prevent injuries to the ankle whilst also aiding in the stabilization of the ankle during play. If the support is placed too high, the ankle will become unstable and prone to injury. On the other hand, if the support is placed too low, the ankle will not be able to extend fully and therefore will suffer from inefficiency whilst playing.
Ankle supports come in a range of heights so you are sure to find one that suits you perfectly when looking for the right solution to your ankle injuries. As for the angle at which you step, this will determine how the ankle bends when you put your weight on it. For example, if you are a skater and lean forward whilst moving, your ankle will naturally bend as it takes the brunt of the shock and weight of your body as you skate. The ankle will also bend more if you step off to the side.