Sport: Hockey

General Commentary:
The ancient sport of hockey is the forerunner of all ‘stick and ball’ games. Played in 132 countries around the world, it is second only in popularity to soccer as a team sport.
Common Injuries:
Most serious injuries result from being struck by the stick or the ball, on the upper limbs. Overuse injuries to the ankles and lower back are also frequently reported.
Ankle sprains account for the greatest game time lost to any injury.
How to avoid Injury:
Outside of proper equipment (guards & pads), the following are the key elements to playing hockey injury-free:

• adequate nutrition & hydration
• pre-season conditioning
• pre-game stretch and post game cool down

Mini home treatment:
• Apply ice for ten minutes at regular intervals for the first seventy two hours after injury. Use a towel as a barrier between skin & ice
• Use a menthol muscle rub to vigorously get muscles ready for activity, and again more gently post workout.

When to see a specialist:
For prevention of injury, a trained Massage Therapist can keep muscles long & supple, and proprioception (body awareness) maximized. This translates into an athlete with heightened awareness on the field.

While recovering from injury, massage therapy can be a part of a greater rehabilitation program , keeping the athlete free from pain, enabling muscle strength and joint flexibility to return to pre-injury levels.
As It is important for a player to undergo a full recovery before returning to play, any and all help in restoring the tissues to optimal health should be exercised.

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