From the Trainer’s Room

Preventing groin injuries in hockey

A successful hockey season filled with wins, goals, assists and enjoyment can be easily derailed with a groin strain.

The groin musculature or adductor group is located on the inside of the thigh and brings the thigh back into the midline of the body. This is an important group of muscles during skating as they elongate, allowing the player to obtain a full stride and contract quickly to recover and bring the skate back beneath the hips to prepare for another powerful stride.

If the muscle group is tight, it can limit full extension of the stride, slowing the athlete down. It also leaves the muscles more susceptible to injury as they may get over stretched or torn as the athlete tries to obtain a full stride. In the case of the adductors being too weak, they can be injured by the repetitive force needed to return the leg to its starting point after the stride is completed.

lature will help obtain proper flexibility. There are many ways to implement a groin strengthening program, but I would suggest starting with something as simple as squeezing a Pilates ring or squeeze ball while lying on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Perform three sets or 15-25 reps two to three times per week.

Groin injuries will occur in hockey, but taking the simple steps of improving flexibility and strength can aid in the prevention.

5 Reasons Adults Should Exercise

Let’s chat about exercising as an adult.

It’s not just about losing weight or changing how you look. That may be one of the many benefits, but let’s break down five top reasons why adults should exercise or include fitness in their daily lives.

Prevention of daily aches/pains in the body

Chris Phillips

In order to prevent groin injuries, it is imperative to obtain and maintain good flexibility and strength. Numerous studies in the NHL have shown that a quality groin injury prevention program will decrease the incidence of these injuries.

So how do you get started?

Implementing a foam roll and stretching program that targets the groins, hip flexors and gluteal muscu-

As we age, our body naturally loses muscle and strength. To add to the deficit, most of us are doing desk jobs that require sitting for more than 6 hours a day. This leads to our joints becoming very stiff/immobilized resulting in the body sending pain signals to us every time we move. Think of pain as the body saying what you’re doing ain’t working. By working out you keep your joints moving and muscles active, preventing stiffness. Fixes posture

Do you slouch when you sit, or maybe have slouched shoulders when you stand? Bad posture not only looks bad, but it’s also very painful to your body. When your head is too far forward (possibly from sitting in front of the computer too long, or “text neck”) you put additional weight stress on your neck having to hold your head. This causes your upper back muscles, spinal column, and hips to have to adjust based on the stress you do from your posture. When you work out, you are training the body to stay upright, your back muscles support your neck, and your head stays in the correct position.

Promotes weight loss

When you exercise you are using both your muscles and heart, which requires energy. Fat is stored energy in the body, and when you exercise more you are choosing to potentially use up the fat stored in your body as an energy source. Doing more exercise means using up energy, resulting in potential fat/weight loss.

Strengthens the heart muscles

Your heart has muscle too! The heart muscles are known as cardiac muscles. The heart is responsible for pumping blood through the body. As you get better at exercise your body is improving at pumping blood as well, due to the strengthening of the cardiac muscle. The more you exercise, the stronger the heart becomes!

Promotes better sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important health components for the body. When we exercise our body’s temperature rises. Once you finish, the body enters a state of recovery decreasing the temperature. The ultimate form of recovery is sleeping. Proper recovery promotes muscle gain, fat loss, and an overall sense of well-being. Also, exercise has been shown to improve the quality of sleep by lessening anxietydriven thoughts.

At our facility, Compete Sports Performance and Rehab, we offer