Keep Your Athletes Safe in the Rink this Hockey Season

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing organized sports in the United States. Although ice hockey may appear dangerous due to the combination of fast speeds, a slippery playing surface, multiple collisions, sharp blades, and a puck traveling rapidly across the rink, with the right equipment and training, it can be played safely.

Help protect your athletes this season from experiencing a hockey-related injury by sharing the following injury prevention tips with them. Good equipment is only the starting point when it comes to safer ice hockey. Hockey is considered a collision sport because of its contact nature. Injuries can occur from contact with other players, the stick, the puck, and the walls surrounding the rink. Non-contact injuries may occur from overuse.

"The risk of injury cannot be completely eliminated, but most injuries are mild and may include bruises, muscle pulls, ligament tears, and cuts," explains Dr. Eric W. Nelson, orthopedic surgeon at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists, "More serious injuries are rare and may include broken teeth, concussions, broken bones, dislocations, sprains, and spine or spinal cord injuries."

Rule changes and better enforcement of existing rules will help in the effort to reduce hockey injuries, along with the use of improved protective equipment. In addition, educating coaches and officials about injury risks has become a priority throughout the nation. To help eliminate dangerous actions, such as checking from behind and using the stick or helmet as a weapon, rules have been updated to penalize players for participating in such actions.

If you would like to learn more about injury prevention for your athletes, call the experienced sports medicine team at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists at (320) 335-6078.