Hockey

Common Injuries

• Head and Facial injuries
  Accidental contact of ball, bat, ground or goal post to either face or head can lead to
  • Minor cuts and bruises
  • Facial fractures
  • Penetrating eye injuries
  • Broken teeth
  • Concussions that brings headaches, concentration problems and fatigue.
• Hand and Wrist Injuries
  Semi-crouched posture with hand placed low on the stick leads to hand and finger stress fractures.
• Groin Strain or Pull
  When players move from side-to-side, some who push off using their inner thigh muscles (groin), have weaker adductor muscles leading to pull with acute groin pain.
• Hamstring Strain
  Hockey is played at sudden bursts of speed leading to Hamstring muscles injury with sudden sharp pain at the back of the thigh especially when sprinting or fast stretching movement.
• Contusions
  Sharp Impact causes quadriceps contusions; muscle is crushed against the thighbone leading to swelling too with pain and restricted movement.
• Knee Injuries
  Are usually caused by sudden stopping and twisting.
  • Cartilage Meniscus injury
    Tear in knee joint’s cartilage causing pain in inside of knee.
  • ACL rupture
    Tear in ACL leading to lose of knee’s stability.
• Shin Splints
  Long runs on hard surfaces causes pain down the front of the lower legs.
• Ankle Injuries
  • Ankle Sprain
    Rolling of ankle with sole of foot turns inward leads to ligament tear on outside of ankle with pain around the ankle joint.
• Overuse Injuries
  Some injuries, are caused due to the repetitive activity and overuse, like
  • Lower back pain
    Constant bending over and twisting, leads to slipped disc, sciatica, spondylitis etc.
• Stress Fractures of leg and foot

Direct Impact cause Fractures to the metatarsal bones with severe pain in foot with rapid swelling and unable to bear weight.

• Heat Related Injuries
  Dehydration and cramps can occur due to improper hydration and fatigue.

Causes

• Most injuries are caused from being struck by hockey stick or ball.
• Injuries are also caused by collision with other players or goal post, also by falling onto the AstroTurf.
• Low hand-placement on stick is another reason for acute contact injury resulting in hands and finger fractures.
• Sudden deceleration by cutting or stopping and collisions causes knee injuries.
• Some external factors like the level of competition and the playtime duration are risk factors.
• Some Intrinsic factors are also probable causes, like
  • Skeletal Immaturity for children due to the still developing bones and joints.
  • Muscle weakness

Prevention

• Proper warm-ups and cool-downs, including stretching before and after playing.
• Make regular progressive gradual improvements while training and avoid overuse.
• Condition your muscles to a hockey specific strength-training program with regular aerobic, strength, flexibility and skills training.
• Wear Appropriate gear, like shin guards and properly fitted mouth guards for all players and
• helmets and face guard for the goalkeepers, during training and competition as well.
• Get plenty of rest and recovery time.
• Avoid extreme weather conditions like heat, humidity, cold, rain etc.
  Do not play when there is pain without getting professional help.

Prevention

• Proper warm-ups and cool-downs, including stretching before and after playing.
• Make regular progressive gradual improvements while training and avoid overuse.
• Condition your muscles to a hockey specific strength-training program with regular aerobic, strength, flexibility and skills training.
• Wear Appropriate gear, like shin guards and properly fitted mouth guards for all players and
• helmets and face guard for the goalkeepers, during training and competition as well.
• Get plenty of rest and recovery time.
• Avoid extreme weather conditions like heat, humidity, cold, rain etc.
  Do not play when there is pain without getting professional help.

Treatment

Dr Banarji B.H,  Best Orthopaedic Surgeon provides best Treatment for Sports Injuries including Hockey Injury.