Chiropractic and Prep Field Hockey: Sticking It to Pain
Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.
By: Paul Rothbart
Hockey is a challenging sport that’s as much fun to watch as it is to play. One of the best things about it is that there are variations that can be played on virtually any surface. Ice or roller rinks, parking lots, and even on grass.
Most high schools have girls’ field hockey teams. As in college, there are some schools with boys’ teams, but far fewer.
Field hockey is played in nations all over the world. It will be featured for men and women at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. It’s been a men’s event since 1928 and women’s since 1980. The world will be watching as the Belgium men look to take home the gold again as it did in 2020. On the women’s side, the Netherlands is the reigning gold medal team. If the U.S. does well, it may generate even more excitement and participation across the country.
College field hockey is primarily a women’s sport, although there are schools with men’s teams. Nearly 6,500 female students play field hockey on their college team, though that number pales next to the number of high school players. Division 1 games are televised on ESPN and a field hockey championship game is fun to watch.
How many high school field hockey players are there?
High schools across 24 states have field hockey teams. There are almost 53,000 girls who play field hockey on their high school teams, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. By contrast, only about 140 boys play prep field hockey. It is fair to say that amongst female students, high school field hockey is a popular sport. These student-athletes share certain traits that help them perform in their chosen sport.
What traits are necessary to excel in field hockey?
Good field hockey players have traits and abilities that are key to excelling. Quickness, agility, and good eye-to-hand coordination are essential. Speed is an asset, as it is in most sports. Strength and mental toughness are also in the makeup of the best players.
Quick thinking and the ability to anticipate can help elevate an average player to elite levels. Being a team player and an effective communicator are also important. Naturally, being physically fit is a vital asset.
What injuries are likely to affect field hockey players?
You might be surprised to find that field hockey is one of the most dangerous sports in high school. Girls’ field hockey had the fifth-highest overall injury rate in 2020-21—at 2.09 per 1,000 athletes—and the fourth-highest practice injury rate (1.54). Field hockey is a physical sport and there are certain types of injuries that are common.
Hand and Wrist
The wrists and hands of field hockey players are vulnerable, especially the lower hand on the stick. When shooting, the player slides that hand lower. Fractures occur frequently due to contact with the ball or an opponent’s stick.
Face
The ball or an opponent’s stick sometimes makes contact with a player’s face. This often causes cuts and bruises. Occasionally a more serious injury results, such as a facial fracture or damage to teeth.
Ankle
Sprained ankles are ubiquitous in sports and field hockey is no different. It is all too easy to roll your ankle by stepping on a piece of uneven ground or another player's foot. Ankle sprains account for 15 percent of field hockey injuries.
Knee and Thigh
Knee injuries, especially ACL tears, are very common in field hockey. Quadricep and hamstring strains also occur frequently.
Concussion
Field hockey has a fair amount of physical contact and the players don’t wear helmets. Taking a stick to the head sometimes happens, as do head-to-head collisions. Concussions account for seven percent of field hockey injuries.
Overuse
There are many chronic injuries that field hockey players suffer due to overuse. These include low back pain, tendonitis in the hips, knees, and ankles, and stress fractures in the feet.
How are spinal alignment, joint mobility, and muscle function linked to injury prevention?
A healthy musculoskeletal system is essential to good health, injury prevention, and performance. The spine supports the entire body and improper alignment can be the cause of numerous injuries, pain, and less-than-optimal performance.
The spine and joints are prone to subluxations and other issues that can restrict the range of motion. Pressure on the spinal cord due to these issues may cause pain and numbness in many other parts of the body. The nervous system may not function properly when the spine is misaligned, which may increase the risk of injury.
Tight muscles are prone to soft tissue injuries that are painful and can keep players out of the game for extended periods.
One of the main benefits of chiropractic treatments is aiding in healing and injury prevention. Chiropractic adjustments begin with the spine. Proper alignment can reduce the risk of injury and chronic pain in many parts of the body.
Adjustments to the joints help to restore full range of motion, reduce inflammation, and prevent many of the common joint injuries experienced by field hockey players. Chiropractic can help to provide faster recovery time when players are injured. This gets them back to training and competitions more quickly.
Can chiropractic improve performance in field hockey?
Chiropractic can both improve performance and help prevent injury. When the spine and joints are properly aligned, a field hockey player’s athletic performance is elevated. The holistic approach of chiropractic means every part of the body functions together the way they are supposed to. This can boost speed, add power to shots, and maximize agility and range of motion. There have been clinical studies that demonstrate chiropractic treatments may improve reflexes and reaction time. This is important in any sport.
From high school through Olympians, field hockey is played by a huge number of people worldwide. It’s a sport that requires skill, stamina, and good hand-to-eye coordination.
The Joint Chiropractic is your neighbor and partner in health. There are clinics located throughout the U.S., and you don’t need an appointment. Bring your budding teen superstar in for an exam and adjustment. They can score a goal for good health as well as for their team.
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