How to Treat Common Hockey Injuries
Field hockey and ice hockey are fast-paced, physically demanding games. The nature of play including the contact rules, equipment used, and speed of both disciplines mean that hockey injuries are unfortunately common.
International hockey injury statistics prove that common hockey injury prevention measures, hockey safety equipment, and protective gear won’t always prevent hockey injuries from happening. For these reasons, all hockey teams must have access to a premium quality first aid kit with the best contents for hockey first aid, whether playing on the field or the ice.
It’s also vital that appointed first aiders, hockey coaches, and supervising staff have good knowledge of first aid practices and how to treat hockey injuries confidently. This article will cover the best tips and techniques for effective and safe hockey injury treatment, so you can rest easy that you’re well prepared for an emergency.
Utilise the RICE Method for Hockey Injury Treatment
Hot and cold therapy is a widely adopted effective practice for treating common sports injuries, and hockey injuries are no exception. For initial injury treatment at the side of the pitch, field, or rink, cold therapy is the preferred method, while hot therapy methods such as heat spray are usually reserved for longer-term physiotherapy treatments.
The RICE method is a common approach used by first aiders, sports physios and even players themselves to address common overuse injuries, including sprains, strains, bruising, and swelling caused by vigorous physical activity, trips and falls, collisions, and more. The intention of RICE therapy is to reduce swelling and inflammation to promote the natural healing process and minimise pain symptoms.
The RICE method is broken down into the following stages:
- R: Rest.
An injured player should stop all physical activity immediately after the injury. The injured area of the body should not have weight put on it, and it should be moved and stretched as little as possible to reduce the risk of worsening the injury and allow the natural healing process to begin.
- I: Ice.
Apply an instant ice pack, chilled hot and cold pack, ice bag, or medical freeze spray to lower the temperature of the injured area. This will reduce swelling in the area, slowing blood flow and lessening pain symptoms.
- C: Compress.
Wrap the injured area with an elastic adhesive bandage, cohesive bandage, zinc oxide tape, or a supportive brace to continue the compression treatment to reduce inflammation.
- E: Elevate.
Raise the injured area above the height of the patient’s heart to keep swelling down. This may require using a triangular bandage as a sling to hold the hand at height or laying the patient on their back and elevating the injured leg comfortably.
The majority of common hockey injuries should be treated using the RICE method. Utilising this approach is an essential part of how to treat a groin injury from hockey, as well as a sprained ankle, pulled hamstring, or bruised swollen areas.
We cover the essential steps in how to spot, assess, and treat these common sports injuries in more detail on our blog. Check out these articles to learn the best techniques.
Treating MCL and ACL Hockey Injuries
Serious knee injuries, such as MCL or ACL tears, are common in field hockey and ice hockey.
The MCL (medial collateral ligament) can be strained or torn through over-extension of the joint, often caused by a sudden, hard collision with another player, a situation that is common in hockey. The MCL is a band of tissue running down the knee joint’s inner side, connecting the thigh and shin bones to keep the knee stable. In the event that the knee twists or bends inwardly or outwardly, the MCL can be damaged, such as strained or torn in serious cases.
The RICE method should be followed when initially treating a hockey MCL injury, and a professional sports physiotherapist or medical practitioner should assess the area as soon as possible to decide on a treatment plan. While most minor MCL injuries will simply require rest, compression and ice and be able to heal naturally, an over-extension of the knee joint should always be taken seriously as it could require a longer rehabilitation plan to re-strengthen the joint or even surgery in severe cases.
The ACL (anterior crucial ligament) is an equally important and, unfortunately, vulnerable part of the knee joint that can be injured during sports activities, including hockey. The ACL is a tough band of tissue that runs diagonally through the inside of the knee joint to provide stability, helping to control the back-and-forth movement of the lower leg. When the ACL is over-extended, often when a straightened-out knee is over-extended outwardly, the ligament can over-stretch and tear.
Suspected ACL injuries should also be treated with the RICE method and assessed by a trained professional as soon as possible. A severe ACL tear can keep a player away from physical activity for several months and even require reconstructive surgery. If you have any concerns about a hockey player’s knee injury, check out our article covering everything you need to know about spotting and treating an ACL tear.
Treating Concussions in Hockey
The UK’s field hockey’s national governing bodies provide an official guide for treating concussions in the GB and England Hockey Concussion Policy.
The policy describes a concussion as
A mild traumatic brain injury caused by either direct or indirect forces to the head. This injury typically results in the rapid onset of short-lived impairment of brain function.
For this reason, even a suspected concussion must be taken seriously at any and all levels of play, even if the player is believed to have only suffered a ‘mild bump’ to the head.
The ‘Recognise and Remove’ approach is recommended by GB and England Hockey, which includes assessing players thoroughly to achieve a diagnosis. Look out for the following visual cues or symptoms while observing a player with a suspected concussion:
Visual Cues:
- A dazed, blank or vacant look
- Lying motionless on the ground / Slow to get up
- Unsteady on feet / Balance problems or falling over / Incoordination
- Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
- Confused / Not aware of play or events
- Grabbing / Clutching of head
- Convulsion
- More emotional / Irritable
Symptoms:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Mental clouding, confusion, or feeling slowed down
- Visual problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness / Feeling “in a fog“ / difficulty concentrating • “Pressure in head”
- Sensitivity to light or noise
If a player is displaying one or more of any of the above behaviours or symptoms, they should be removed from play immediately and monitored closely. The policy adds that ‘if in doubt, sit them out.’
The English Ice Hockey Association offers similar advice for the treatment of concussion, promoting the ‘HEADCHECK’approach for all players after a training session or competitive game. This ensures there is no risk of head injury going unassessed and posing a danger to players.
Concussions vary in severity, and each case will require a different length of recovery time. To keep any hockey players with a diagnosed or suspected concussion safe, ensure that they are well hydrated, rest, and don’t drink alcohol for at least several days or drive themselves home.
You’ll Need a Quality First Aid Kit to Treat Hockey Injuries
At Sterosport, we take sports safety seriously, including providing easy access to premium first aid supplies to support athletes, teams and clubs in treating injuries safely and effectively.
For hockey, we’ve worked with industry professionals to develop a specialised hockey first aid kit that complies with NGB recommendations to provide everything needed to treat the most common hockey injuries with ease.
If you’re a hockey coach or club manager, check out this article to learn about the best sports first aid courses you or your staff should take to ensure you’re well-prepared.
Want to know more? Get in touch to find out how best Sterosport can support your team in the event of an injury. We supply sports teams across the country with the highest quality first aid and rehabilitation products and have set up our Injury Rehab Network to promote injury recovery, learning and support across the sports industry.