Taking Care Of Yourself On The Ice: Avoiding Hockey Injuries

Hockey is one of the world’s most popular and most physically demanding sports. The unique combination of rigorous physical contact with some very dangerous pieces of equipment can also result in a lot of injuries for the unprepared. The use of padding and helmets has decreased a lot of the more dangerous and even fatal injuries, but still, hockey is right on top with American football and rugby where the possibility of sports injuries is concerned. However, rugby and football players don’t have sharp skates or wooden sticks to contend with. Here are some tips on how to avoid getting yourself messed up when playing:

1) First of all, wear proper safety equipment. Shoddy padding and helmets cause even more trouble than they solve. Always make sure that your padding is snug, secure and comfortable for you. Extra padding can added for trouble areas.

2) Properly condition yourself for hockey. A well-conditioned body will avoid some of the biggest pitfalls faced by athletes: muscle sprain. A fit body would also be able to handle a lot more punishment and keep on going longer than they would. A good regimen of exercise can improve a player’s physical condition enough so that he can avoid physical injury.

3) A good grounding in hockey basics can be a lifesaver. Being a skillful skater and knowing how to handle a hockey stick properly will enable a player to handle situations on the ice that can lead to injury. A good coach also teaches the basics of disciplined play so as to make sure players don’t take unnecessary risks while playing. Getting in the habit of avoiding potentially harmful positions like the head-down pose for skating can also help minimize neck and spinal injuries.

4) A thorough observance of all the necessary rules of play and the spirit of sportsmanship. Some of the biggest injuries in the NHL come from often from cross-checks, two handed blows from hockey sticks, and often illegal physical contacts that some players favor. This should not be condoned and avoided in even practice games. There is such a thing as being too aggressive on the ice.

5) A good warm-up before the game can do wonders to avoid knee and muscle-related injuries during the game. Stiff muscles can result in sprains, the sudden stops and twists while skating in the rink can cause this undue strain, especially in the lower body.

Hopefully, these tips are enough to get you out of danger and make your hockey-playing days a more enjoyable and safe experience.