Preventing Hockey Injuries

Widely considered Canada’s past time, Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Canada. With an abundance of children joining organized leagues each year, it comes with the risk of injury. Although it may seem like injuries in a contact sport such as hockey may be inevitable, there are various ways you can prevent an injury when playing hockey.

HealthX’s experienced professionals offer the latest methods to help treat an injury that has come as a result of hockey and will have you back on the ice in no time!

There are many ways you can prevent hockey injuries, here are some of the top methods:

Protective Hockey Gear

Given the physical nature of the sport, making sure that you have the proper gear is a critical step in preventing an injury. Not only must a player have the proper equipment, but it is also important that this gear fits properly in order to correctly protect the player. Essential equipment includes:

• Helmet
• Mouth Guard
• Neck Guard
• Shoulder Pads
• Elbow Pads
• Gloves
• Hockey Pants
• Shin Pads
• Skates
• Jock

Preparation for the Season

Prior to the start of a hockey season, one must be sure that they are in a physical condition that is appropriate to their level of play. One of the most important things any player can do is maintain their fitness throughout the offseason. Approaching the season in a peak physical condition will greatly reduce the risk of injury.

Proper Warm-Up and Cool-Down

The process of warming up your muscles before a game or cooling down your muscles after may seem like a tedious task to some. However, it is important that players of all ages include some form of warm-up and cool-down before and after a game or practice.

Warm-Up
Including a proper warm-up will help reduce the risk of injury by ensuring that player’s body temperatures and heart rate is increased and muscles are no longer stiff. Cold muscles do not absorb shock or impact well and leave you at a higher risk of injury. Common warm up exercises can include:

• High Knees and Butt Kickers
• Leg Kicks
• Lunges
• Squats

Cool-Down
The goal of a cool-down is to return the heart rate back to a normal, or resting rate. Common cool down exercises in hockey can include static stretching of the calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, groin, shoulders and chest. A slower-paced shooting or skating drill can also assist in bringing players heart rates down prior to static stretching.

Get Started With HealthX

Preventing an injury in Hockey is no easy task, and the professionals at HealthX are here to help you get on the right path. Whether you have recently suffered a Hockey Injury or are looking to stay on a healthy plan, HealthX has the qualified professionals to keep players healthy and get you back on the ice in no time!

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