Most Common Hockey Injuries and Treatments

Ice hockey is a popular winter sport in the United States, with thousands of amateur and professional athletes playing every year. With nonstop action and the tendency for full body contact, players are constantly at risk of experiencing hockey injuries regardless of the precautions they take.

Today, we’re taking a look at the most common hockey injuries and treatments to get players back on the ice as quickly as possible. We’ll also look at how some hockey recovery methods may help reduce the risk of injuries in the first place! Read on, and learn how to recover from common hockey injuries in no time.

Common Hockey Injuries

Similar to football, hockey is a very physically-demanding sport. Not only do players have to work their bodies nonstop on the ice, but there are often collisions between players that could lead to accidental injuries, as well. Stretching and maintaining a limber body aren’t enough to reduce the risk of common hockey injuries to zero, but knowing how to recover from a sports injury quickly and effectively are key to getting back on the ice as fast as possible.

Some of the most common hockey injuries include:

• Pulled muscles (muscles strain)
• Shoulder joint injuries (AC joint)
• ACL strains or tears
• Dislocated shoulders
• Concussions
• MCL strains or tears
• Ankle sprain

Pulled Muscles From Hockey

One of the most common hockey injuries players may experience is muscle strain, or a pulled muscle. Muscle strain should be treated immediately as symptoms arise. Failure to treat symptoms can lead to more serious injuries or lasting damage, including a limited range of motion needed to play.

Learning how to treat muscle strain gives you a variety of home treatment options to try. From heat therapy and gentle stretches to resting in a zero gravity chair for enhanced bodily healing, pulled muscles are often relatively easy to treat as long as you don’t overdo it during your hockey recovery.

Shoulder Joint Hockey Injuries

Shoulder joint separation is also a very common hockey injury that players may encounter during their time with the sport. They most often occur by being checked into the boards, falling on the ice, or giving a hit to an opposing player. Players should be wearing the appropriate padding and equipment in order to reduce their risk of these hockey injuries the most. Additionally, they should try to avoid hitting or falling on the outside of the shoulder.

Treatment for shoulder joint injuries depends on the severity of the injury. Like with all hockey injuries, the player should first seek out professional medical attention right away to determine the course of their hockey recovery. Rest and relaxation, along with light stretching to prevent muscle stiffness, are common methods for recovering from small shoulder joint hockey injuries.

ACL Strains or Tears

Next on our list of common hockey injuries and treatments are ACL strains and tears. The ACL is the main ligament that controls the movement of your shinbone in relation to the thigh bone. When the ACL tears, your knee can become unstable and may buckle or give way. ACL strains and tears are common hockey injuries because of the quick, frequent movements players have to make on the ice, as well as their rapid changes in direction.

ACL hockey injuries that are able to be treated at home may require the use of simple sports recovery tools like a knee brace and using a zero gravity chair to speed up the healing process. In the zero gravity position, not only is the knee elevated above the heart level, but blood flow increases, helping tissue heal more efficiently.

Dislocated Shoulders

Different from shoulder joint (AC) injuries, a dislocated shoulder is when the top of the bone of your upper arm comes out of the socket in your shoulder. There can be a partial or complete dislocation from hockey injuries, with professional assessment being an immediate necessity. Partial dislocations may reset on their own, but complete shoulder dislocations will require medical assistance to set and should not be attempted on your own.

Common treatments for partial dislocation hockey injuries include applying ice for the first few days followed by heat therapy, as well as resting and immobilizing the arm until it’s healed. Once more, zero gravity chairs make excellent athlete recovery tools as they help improve how the body heals itself alongside bonus features of zero gravity luxury recliners like massage and heat therapy functions.

Concussions

Concussions are arguably one of the most common hockey injuries experienced by hockey players and can occur when players strike the boards, another player, or hit the ice with their head after falling. Spatial awareness and proper equipment are the best preventative measures against these hockey injuries, but the risk is always there. If you believe you or another player may be experiencing symptoms of a concussion, seek medical help right away.

Players have to be symptom free for at least a week before being cleared to return to play, and it’s of utmost importance that they take this hockey recovery seriously to prevent very serious permanent effects on their health.

MCL Strains or Tears

Like ACL strains, medial collateral ligament MCL strains also make our list of common hockey injuries players may experience from their time on the ice. The MCL is the ligament on the inner part of the knee, which can be stretched after a hit on the outside of the knee.

Doctors grade MCL sprains based on three levels of severity, ranging from damage to only a few knee ligament fibers through a complete tear. Most sprains can be treated without a brace and after their hockey recovery, players are often able to resume skating in 2 to 3 weeks.

Ankle Sprain

Last, but not least, on our list of the most common hockey injuries and treatments are ankle sprains. These injuries are exceptionally common for hockey players due to constant movements and changes in direction on the ice. Wearing the right size of skates and stretching properly (including ankle stretches!) can help prevent these hockey injuries or minimize the damage done.

Common hockey recovery methods for this kind of injury include the R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) which pairs perfectly well with zero gravity chairs, as well. Taking it easy on a sprained ankle will help it heal more effectively and lower the risk of lasting damage.

As you can see, the list of common hockey injuries affects every part of the body from head to toe. Learning how to treat these injuries can improve hockey recovery time and get you back on the ice before you know it.  From ice packs and rest to zero gravity healing benefits for athletes, consult a medical professional and begin treatment as quickly as possible to maximize results.

Want to learn more about zero gravity chairs and how they can help athletes of all types? Check out the Svago Lite Zero Gravity Recliner, complete with lumbar vibration massage and heat, for a quicker recovery.