THE SPORTS DOCTOR
KEEPING HOCKEY INJURIES ON ICE By Dr. Michael Gross
I
ce hockey is one of the most popular winter sports, and participation on all levels and by both sexes continues to grow. This finesse sport requires speed, power and teamwork. The unique nature of the game of hockey results in specific injuries, all of them should be recognized and treated properly if they occur. However, the best treatment is often prevention, and many of them can be avoided. Therefore, a working knowledge of injury risk, sport-specific conditioning and injury prevention strategies are essential for athletes, coaches and parents. The chances of sustaining any injury are dependent on many variables. These include the level of participation, player position, game versus practice exposure, protective equipment, violent behavior and personal susceptibility due to pre-existing injury and style of play. Injuries occur much more frequently in games than in practice, and the risk of injury in a game increases with each higher level of participation. In an effort to reduce hockey injuries, many studies have been done in order to better understand the risks and to come up with preventative measures. Rule changes, enforcement of existing rules and protective equipment standards are attempts to improve the safety of the game. Attention has also been directed toward education of coaches, players, parents and officials. Potentially dangerous actions such as checking from behind and the use of the
helmet or the stick as a weapon must be eliminated from the game. Before taking to the ice to play hockey, two things are necessary: participants must have mastered basic skating skills (such as skating forward and backward) and they should have the necessary equipment to prevent injury. Ice hockey requires a lot of protective equipment and it must fit properly to effectively protect the player. It’s essential to wear appropriate ice hockey safety equipment, including helmets, pads and protective gear, to reduce both the risk and severity of injury. Even so, a hockey player may still sustain an injury on the ice. 52
